The _cis G_olgi is usually closely apposed to the endoplasmic reticulum, where proteins are synthesized by ribosomes. Once they have left the ribosome, the proteins are already close to the Golgi and are taken up by the cis side of the apparatus. The _trans G_olgi sends the newly packaged proteins out to their final destinations.

The cis face of the Golgi apparatus is the first part of the apparatus that faces the rough endoplasmic reticulum and interacts with recently synthesized proteins that need to be processed and packaged by the Golgi apparatus. The rest of the structures listed are indeed parts of the Golgi that the proteins must pass through during the course of processing, but the cis face is met first.