Anatomical/Alignment terms

Question 1

Anterior

Answer 1

in front of

Question 2

posterior

Answer 2

behind of, in back of

Question 3

medial

Answer 3

relating to the middle or center of

Question 4

lateral

Answer 4

on or to the side; outside, farther from the median or midsagittal plane

Question 5

superior

Answer 5

above in relation to another structure

Question 6

inferior

Answer 6

below in relation to another structure

Question 7

Proximal

Answer 7

nearest the trunk or point of origin

Question 8

distal

Answer 8

situated away from the center or midline, away from point of origin

Question 9

contralateral

Answer 9

relating to opposite side

Question 10

Ipsilateral

Answer 10

on same side

Question 11

bilateral

Answer 11

relating to the right and left sides of the body

Question 12

anteroinferior

Answer 12

in front and below

Question 13

anterosuperior

Answer 13

in front and above

Question 14

anterolateral

Answer 14

in front and to the side

Question 15

anteromedial

Answer 15

in front and towards the midline

Question 16

anteroposterior

Answer 16

relating to both front and rear

Question 17

posteroinferior

Answer 17

behind and below

Question 18

posterosuperior

Answer 18

behind and above

Question 19

posterolateral

Answer 19

behind and to the side

Question 20

posteromedial

Answer 20

behind and towards the midline

Question 21

superolateral

Answer 21

above and to the side

Question 22

superomedial

Answer 22

above and toward the midline

Question 23

inferolateral

Answer 23

below and to the side

Question 24

inferomedial

Answer 24

below and towards the midline

Question 25

caudal

Answer 25

inferior

Question 26

cephalic

Answer 26

superior

Question 27

caudocephalad

Answer 27

directionally for tail to head in the long axis of the body

Question 28

cephalocaudal

Answer 28

directionally from head to tail in the long axis of the body

Question 29

deep

Answer 29

beneath or below the surface, used to describe relative depth or location of muscle or tissue

Question 30

superficial

Answer 30

near the surface; used to describe relative depth or location of muscle or tissue

Question 31

dexter

Answer 31

relating to or situated to the right or on the right side of something

Question 32

sinister

Answer 32

relating to or situated to the left or on the left side of something

Question 33

Dorsal

Answer 33

on or located near the back; top of foot

Question 34

ventral

Answer 34

belly or abdomen

Question 35

palmer

Answer 35

palm or volar aspect of the hand

Question 36

volar

Answer 36

palm of hand or sole of foot

Question 37

plantar

Answer 37

sole or undersurface of foot

Question 38

fibular

Answer 38

fibular (lateral) side of knee, leg, ankle, or foot; also called peroneal

Question 39

tibial

Answer 39

tibial (medial) side of knee, leg, ankle, or foot

Question 40

radial

Answer 40

radial (lateral) side of forearm or hand

Question 41

ulnar

Answer 41

ulnar side of forearm or hand

Question 42

scapular plane

Answer 42

in line with normal resting position of scapula as it lies on posterior rib cage

Question 43

Retroversion

Answer 43

abnormal or excessive rotation backward of a structure

ex) femoral retroversion

Question 44

anteversion

Answer 44

abnormal or excessive rotation forward of a structure

ex) femoral anteversion

Question 45

kyphosis

Answer 45

increased curving of the spine outward or backward in the sagittal plane

Question 46

lordosis

Answer 46

increased curving of the spine inward or forward in the sagittal plane

Question 47

scoliosis

Answer 47

lateral curving of the spine

Question 48

valgus

Answer 48

outward angulation of the distal segment of a bond or joint

ex) knock knees

Question 49

varus

Answer 49

inward angulation of the distal segment of a bone or joint

ex) bowlegs

Question 50

Recurvatum

Answer 50

bending backward, or knee hyperextension