Cranial means located towards the head. On the trunk it describes the direction upwards. The opposite term is caudal, that is towards the coccyx. Both terms apply whether a person is standing or lying down.
Greek kraníon = skull
towards the head, superior
cranial, superior
Because the terms refer to the body axis and not to the surrounding space, they stay valid for a patient who is lying down – a key advantage over everyday words such as above and below.
On the head itself, rostral and caudal are often used instead of cranial and caudal, taking the tip of the nose as the reference point.
Free and no obligation.