Anatomical positions

Question 1

standard anatomic position

Answer 1

standing upright, arms by side, palms facing forward

Question 2

superior

Answer 2

above

Question 3

inferior

Answer 3

below

Question 4

medial

Answer 4

middle (closer to middle)

Question 5

lateral

Answer 5

side (further from middle)

Question 6

anterior

Answer 6

in front

Question 7

posterior

Answer 7

behind

Question 8

proximal

Answer 8

closer to origin of a part

Question 9

distal

Answer 9

further from origin of a part

Question 10

superficial

Answer 10

closer to skin

Question 11

deep

Answer 11

further from skin

Question 12

internal

Answer 12

inside

Question 13

external

Answer 13

outside

Question 14

ventral

Answer 14

‘belly’ = closer to the belly surface

Question 15

dorsal

Answer 15

‘back’ = closer to the back surface

Question 16

palmar

Answer 16

opposite surface to the dorsum of the hand

Question 17

plantar

Answer 17

opposite surface to the dorsum of the foot

Question 18

cranial

Answer 18

skull, towards the head

Question 19

caudial

Answer 19

tail, towards the tail

Question 20

rostral

Answer 20

beak, closer to the front within the head

Question 21

occipital

Answer 21

closer to the back within the head

Question 22

bilateral

Answer 22

paired structures on both left and right side of body

Question 23

unilateral

Answer 23

unpaired structure on just one side of the body (L/R)

Question 24

ipsilateral

Answer 24

structures on the same side of the body

Question 25

contralateral

Answer 25

structures on the opposite side of the body

Question 26

frontal/coronal plane

Answer 26

vertical plane that divides body into front and back portions

Question 27

sagittal/lateral plane

Answer 27

vertical plane that divides body into right and left sides

Question 28

transverse/axial plane

Answer 28

horizontal plane that divides body into upper and lower portions, creating a cross section

Question 29

body cavity

Answer 29

any space or compartment, or potential space, in the animal body contains organs and fluid main cavities = dorsal (back) and ventral (belly)

Question 30

ventral cavity -> thoracic

Answer 30

organs - heart, lungs | membranous lining - pericardium, pleura

Question 31

ventral cavity -> abdominal

Answer 31

organs - digestive organs, spleen, kidneys | membranous lining - peritoneum

Question 32

ventral cavity -> pelvic

Answer 32

organs - bladder, reproductive organs | membranous lining - peritoneum

Question 33

dorsal cavity -> vertebral

Answer 33

organs - spinal cord | membranous lining - meninges

Question 34

dorsal cavity -> cranial

Answer 34

organs - brain | membranous lining - meninges

Question 35

elevation

Answer 35

movement in a superior direction

Question 36

depression

Answer 36

movement in an inferior direction

Question 37

protraction

Answer 37

body part moved forwards/anterior direction (scapula, mandible)

Question 38

retraction

Answer 38

body part moved backwards/posterior direction (scapula, mandible)

Question 39

eversion

Answer 39

rotating sole of foot outward

Question 40

inversion

Answer 40

rotating sole inwards

Question 41

dorsiflexion

Answer 41

pointing toes upwards

Question 42

plantarflexion

Answer 42

pointing toes downwards

Question 43

rotation

Answer 43

bone or limb pivots around a joint

Question 44

pronation

Answer 44

rotation of forearm so palmar surface points downwards

Question 45

supination

Answer 45

rotation of forearm so palmar surface points upwards

Question 46

flexion

Answer 46

bending of limb or joint to decrease joint angle

Question 47

extension

Answer 47

straightening or limb or joint to increase joint angle

Question 48

abduction

Answer 48

body part moving away from midline of body

Question 49

adduction

Answer 49

body part moving towards midline of the body