cephalic

Cephalic is an adjective that denotes relation to the head. In anatomy and medicine, it is used to describe structures or directions toward the head end of the body. The term is often used alongside cranial, though cephalic may appear in contexts that emphasize positional or morphological aspects rather than strictly anatomical terms.

Origin: Cephalic derives from Latin caput meaning “head,” via the Greek combining form cephal- (from kephale). It forms many medical terms, such as cephalic vein or cephalometry.

Usage: The cephalic region covers the head and its associated parts, including the skull, brain, face, and sensory organs. In orientation, cephalic means toward the head, with opposite caudal meaning toward the tail.

Obstetrics: Cephalic presentation describes a fetus that is head first at delivery. It is the most common and usually preferred presentation. Non-cephalic presentations, such as breech or shoulder, may necessitate medical planning or intervention.

Examples: The cephalic vein is a superficial vein of the upper limb. The cephalic index is a measure used to classify skull shape into dolichocephalic, mesocephalic, and brachycephalic categories.

Other uses: In zoology, veterinary anatomy, and related fields, cephalic can refer to the head region or features located there across various species.