cephalad

English

Etymology

From cephal- +‎ -ad.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛfəlæd/

Adverb

cephalad (comparative more cephalad, superlative most cephalad)

1. (anatomy) Towards the head (or anterior extremity), a direction that in humans corresponds to superior.

   Antonym: caudad

   • 1996 July, Richard M. Gore, Emil J. Balthazar, Gary G. Ghahremani, Frank H. Miller, “CT Features of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease”, in American Journal of Roentgenology, volume 167, number 1, →DOI, page 9:

     Perianal disease is common in patients with Crohn’s disease. Unfortunately, the perianal area often is poorly evaluated by barium studies because the enema tip may be inserted too cephalad or because exquisite anal tenderness may preclude adequate retrograde distension and evaluation.

Coordinate terms

• cephalic
• caudal