1.1 Anatomical position and terminology

Question 1

How is the figure standing in the anatomical position?

Answer 1

Standing on flat feet, toes pointing forwards, arms by the sides of the body with palms facing forwards, the head upright and eyes looking directly forwards. May be lying on back in same position.

Question 2

Mid-sagittal (medial) plane:

Answer 2

Vertical plane passing longitudinally through the centre of the body, dividing it into left and right halves.

Question 3

Sagittal plane:

Answer 3

Vertical plane passing parallel to the mid-saggital plane.

Question 4

Frontal (coronal) plane

Answer 4

Vertical plane at right angles to sagittal planes, dividing the body into front and back parts

Question 5

Horizontal (transverse) plane:

Answer 5

Planes at right angles to both sagittal and frontal planes, dividing the body into upper and lower parts

Question 6

Superior (cranial):

Answer 6

Towards the head

Question 7

Inferior (caudal)

Answer 7

Towards the feet

Question 8

Anterior (ventral)

Answer 8

Towards the front of the body

Question 9

Posterior (dorsal)

Answer 9

Towards the back of the body

Question 10

Medial

Answer 10

Towards the midline of the body.

Question 11

“The heart is __________ to the stomach”

Answer 11

Superior

Question 12

“The stomach is ________ to the heart”

Answer 12

Inferior

Question 13

Proximal

Answer 13

Closer to the point of attachment.

Question 14

Distal

Answer 14

Away from, or distant to, the point of attachment.

Question 15

“The shoulder is ______ to the elbow”

Answer 15

Proximal

Question 16

Where structures are in relation to the body surface, superficial is:

Answer 16

Closer to the surface.

Question 17

Where structures are in relation to the body surface, deep is:

Answer 17

Further from the surface.

Question 18

Abduction

Answer 18

Movement away from midline

Question 19

Adduction

Answer 19

Movement towards the midline.

Question 20

Flexion

Answer 20

decreasing the angle

Question 21

Extension

Answer 21

Increasing the angle.

Question 22

Medial rotation

Answer 22

Rotation towards the midline

Question 23

Lateral rotation

Answer 23

Rotation away from the midline

Question 24

Retrusion (retraction)

Answer 24

Specifically relates to moving the jaw posteriorly.

Question 25

Protrusion (protraction)

Answer 25

Specifically relates to protruding the jaw anteriorly.

Question 26

Elevation

Answer 26

Living a body part vertically (e.g. shrugging shoulders, closing the lower jaw).

Question 27

The breastbone is _______ to the spine.

Answer 27

Anterior

Question 28

The heart is ________ to the breastbone.

Answer 28

Posterior

Question 29

The heart is ________ to the arm.

Answer 29

Medial

Question 30

Describe the position of the nose relative to the eyes?

Answer 30

The nose is medial, inferior and anterior (ventral) to the eyes.

Question 31

What is a process?

Answer 31

A process is a prominence or a projection of bone that usually serves as an attachment point for ligaments or muscles.

Question 32

What is a foramen?

Answer 32

A foramen (plural = foramina) is a hole in a bone, usually for a nerve or a blood vessel to pass through.