Anatomical Positions

Question 1

anterior

Answer 1

toward the front of the body

Question 2

posterior

Answer 2

toward the back of the body

Question 3

medial

Answer 3

toward the midline of the body

Question 4

lateral

Answer 4

toward the side of the body

Question 5

proximal

Answer 5

nearer to the point of attachment or to a given

reference point

Question 6

distal

Answer 6

farther from the point of attachment or from a given

reference point

Question 7

superior (cranial)

Answer 7

above; toward the head

Question 8

inferior (caudal)

Answer 8

below; toward the lower end of the spine

Question 9

Superficial (external)

Answer 9

closer to the surface of the body

Question 10

Deep (internal)

Answer 10

closer to the center of the body

Question 11

Supine

Answer 11

lying face up

Question 12

Prone

Answer 12

lying face down

Question 13

Sagittal

Answer 13

Cuts through the body from front to back and

divides the body into right and left sections

Question 14

Midsagittal

Answer 14

Cuts through the midline of the body from

front to back and divides the body into equal right and left sections

Question 15

Frontal (coronal)

Answer 15

Cuts at a right angle to the midline, from side to side, and divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections

Question 16

Transverse (horizontal) (axial)

Answer 16

Cuts horizontally through the body and separates the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) sections