Anatomical Directions And Planes

Question 1

Higher level Anatomical regions

Answer 1

Head, neck, torso (thorax, abdomen and pelvis), upper limb, lower limb

Question 2

Frontal plane

Answer 2

Splits anterior vs posterior (front vs back)

Question 3

Median plane

Answer 3

Right vs left that goes directly through midline of body

Question 4

Sagittal plane

Answer 4

Right vs left but not down the exact middle of body

Question 5

Transverse (axial, cross) plane

Answer 5

Superior vs inferior (top vs bottom)

Question 6

Standard Anatomical position

Answer 6

Standing, feet parallel, facing anterior (including head, palmer surfaces of hands, toes)

Question 7

Superior/cranial

Answer 7

Nearer to head/cranium; ex: the neck is superior to the thirax

Question 8

Inferior/caudal

Answer 8

Nearer to the sole of the foot

Question 9

Anterior/ventral

Answer 9

Towards the front surface (ex: the nose is anterior to the ear)

Question 10

Posterior/dorsal

Answer 10

Towards the back surface

Question 11

Superficial

Answer 11

Towards the surface

Question 12

Deep

Answer 12

Towards the center (ex: the lungs are deep to the thoracic wall)

Question 13

Medial

Answer 13

Towards the median plane of the body (ex: the heart is medial to the lungs)

Question 14

Lateral

Answer 14

Away from the median plane

Question 15

Proximal

Answer 15

Towards the trunk or point of origin

Question 16

Distal

Answer 16

Away from trunk or point of origin (ex: the hands is distal to the wrist)