What anatomical term is used to describe a structure closer to the head?

The anatomical term used to describe a structure closer to the head is "rostral." This term specifically refers to the direction toward the snout or nose, which is particularly relevant in veterinary medicine since it describes positions in animals, especially those with elongated heads like dogs and cats. In general anatomical terminology, rostral works well when discussing the head area, distinguishing it from other orientations.

In this context, other terms like "caudal," which refers to structures closer to the tail, and "ventral" and "dorsal," which indicate positions toward the belly and back respectively, do not apply when considering proximity to the head. Therefore, rostral is the most accurate descriptor for identifying structures that are located closer to the head in relation to their anatomical position.