2 - directional Terms

Question 1

superior; —

Answer 1

above, in an upward direction, toward the head

ex: neck is superior to abdomen

Question 2

inferior; infer/o

Answer 2

below, in a downward direction, toward the feet

ex: feet are inferior to abdomen

Question 3

anterior; anter/o

Answer 3

in front of, before, the front side of the body

ex: nose is on anterior side of head

Question 4

posterior; poster/o

Answer 4

toward the back, the backside of the body

ex: buttocks are on posterior side of body

Question 5

cephalic; cephal/o

Answer 5

pertaining to the head; superior in position

ex: cephalic presentation at birth means any part of the head came out first

Question 6

caudal; caud/o

Answer 6

pertaining to the tail, inferior in position

ex: cauda equina is a specific part of the spinal cord located at the bottom

Question 7

medial; medi/o

Answer 7

nearest to the midline or middle

ex: umbilicus is in the medial area of abdomen

Question 8

lateral; later/o

Answer 8

to the side, away from the middle

ex: arms are lateral to abdomen

Question 9

proximal; proxim/o

Answer 9

nearest to the point of attachment, near the point of origin

ex: elbow is proximal to hand

Question 10

distal; dist/o

Answer 10

away from the point of attachment, far from the point of origin

ex: hand is distal to elbow

Question 11

deep; —

Answer 11

further below the surface

ex: deep wounds penetrate far into the body

Question 12

superficial; —

Answer 12

near the surface

ex: superficial wounds only damage few top layers of tissue