Anterior vs. Posterior — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 18, 2023
Anterior refers to the front or forward-facing side, while Posterior denotes the back or rear side.
Difference Between Anterior and Posterior
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Anterior and Posterior are terminologies often employed in anatomy and biology to describe the relative positions of structures. Anterior indicates the front part or surface of an organism, whereas Posterior signifies the back part or surface.
For humans, when standing in the anatomical position, the chest is Anterior while the spine is Posterior. Thus, Anterior gives a sense of being in the forefront, while Posterior suggests being at the back or behind.
In the realm of dentistry, Anterior teeth are those at the front (like incisors), and Posterior teeth refer to those at the back (like molars). The use of Anterior and Posterior in this context provides clear demarcation between front and back teeth.
Similarly, in the human brain, the Anterior region pertains to the front part close to the forehead, while the Posterior region is closer to the back of the head. Both terms, Anterior and Posterior, are integral to pinpointing exact locations or parts of the brain.
When considering objects, Anterior can be used metaphorically to refer to the initial or preceding part, while Posterior might imply the subsequent or following part. Nevertheless, in most contexts, the primary use remains anatomical.
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Comparison Chart
Direction
Front
Back
Human Anatomy
Front part (e.g., chest)
Back part (e.g., spine)
Dentistry
Front teeth
Back teeth
Brain Anatomy
Frontal region
Back region
Sequential Order
Preceding part
Subsequent part
Compare with Definitions
Anterior
Preceding or prior in sequence.
The Anterior events led to the current situation.
Posterior
Following in time or order.
The consequences were Posterior to the incident.
Anterior
Relating to the front section in anatomy.
The heart is situated Anterior to the spine.
Posterior
Relating to the rear section in anatomy.
The brain's Posterior lobe manages visual input.
Anterior
Pertaining to the beginning or start.
His Anterior attempts were not successful.
Posterior
Oriented or situated at the rear side.
The Posterior end of the worm was tapered.
Anterior
Located before or at the front.
The Anterior chamber of the eye is filled with aqueous humor.
Posterior
Located behind or at the back.
The Posterior wall of the atrium was thickened.
Anterior
Forward-facing or situated at the face side.
The Anterior side of the leaf was smoother.
Posterior
Referring to the end or conclusion.
The project's Posterior stages required more effort.
Anterior
Placed before or in front.
Posterior
Located behind a part or toward the rear of a structure.
Anterior
Occurring before in time; earlier.
Posterior
Relating to the caudal end of the body in quadrupeds or the back of the body in humans and other primates.
Anterior
Located near or toward the head in lower animals.
Posterior
(Botany) Next to or facing the main stem or axis.
Anterior
Located on or near the front of the body in higher animals.
Posterior
Coming after in order; following.
Anterior
Located on or near the front of an organ or on the ventral surface of the body in humans.
Posterior
Following in time; subsequent.
Anterior
(Botany) In front of and facing away from the axis or stem.
Posterior
The buttocks.
Anterior
(anatomy) Nearer the forward end, especially in the front of the body; nearer the head or forepart of an animal.
Posterior
(anatomy) Nearer the rear or hind end; nearer the caudal end of the body in quadrupeds or the dorsal end in bipeds.
Anterior
(botany) of a part of a flower or leaf Situated further away from the mainstem.
Posterior
(medicine) Relating to or denoting presentation of a fetus in which the rear or caudal end is nearest the cervix and emerges first at birth.
Anterior
(phonetics) Pronounced with an obstruction located in front of the palato-alveolar region of the mouth, e.g. b, p, d, t.
Posterior
(botany) Next to, or facing the main stem or axis.
Anterior
(formal) Coming before or earlier in time or development, prior to, preceding.
Posterior
(formal) Following in order or in time.
Anterior
Before in time; antecedent.
Antigonus, who was anterior to Polybius.
Posterior
The hinder parts of the body.
Anterior
Before, or toward the front, in place; as, the anterior part of the mouth; - opposed to posterior.
Posterior
(maths) The probability that a hypothesis is true (calculated by Bayes' theorem).
Anterior
A tooth situated at the front of the mouth;
His malocclusion was caused by malposed anteriors
Posterior
Later in time; hence, later in the order of proceeding or moving; coming after; - opposed to prior.
Hesiod was posterior to Homer.
Anterior
Of or near the head end or toward the front plane of the body
Posterior
Situated behind; hinder; - opposed to anterior.
Anterior
Earlier in time
Posterior
At or toward the caudal extremity; caudal; - in human anatomy often used for dorsal.
Posterior
On the side next the axis of inflorescence; - said of an axillary flower.
Posterior
The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on;
He deserves a good kick in the butt
Are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?
Posterior
A tooth situated at the back of the mouth
Posterior
At or near the hind end in quadrupeds or toward the spine in primates
Common Curiosities
In which field are Anterior and Posterior most commonly used?
They are most commonly used in anatomy to denote positional references.
Is the tailbone considered Anterior or Posterior in humans?
The tailbone (coccyx) is considered Posterior in humans.
Can Anterior mean earlier in terms of time?
Yes, Anterior can refer to events that came before another.
Are the terms Anterior and Posterior used in dentistry?
Yes, to differentiate between front (Anterior) and back (Posterior) teeth.
In a fish, which side is the Anterior side?
The side with the head and mouth is the Anterior side of a fish.
In birds, is the belly side considered Anterior?
No, the belly side is considered ventral. In birds, Anterior refers to the head side.
Is the back of the hand Anterior or Posterior?
It's considered Posterior, while the palm side is Anterior.
Are Anterior and Posterior relative or absolute terms?
They are relative terms, depending on the orientation and species being referred to.
Can Posterior mean "following in sequence"?
Yes, Posterior can imply events or things that follow others in time or order.
Are these terms used outside of biology?
While primarily used in biology, they can be used metaphorically in other contexts to denote sequence or order.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
