Anatomical Positions & Planes

Question 1

Anterior/ventral

Answer 1

Towards the front of the body

Question 2

Posterior/dorsal

Answer 2

Towards the back of the body

Question 3

Medial

Answer 3

Towards the midline of the body

Question 4

Lateral

Answer 4

Towards 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 to a given reference point

Question 7

Superior/cranial

Answer 7

Above; toward the head

Question 8

Superior/cranial

Answer 8

Above; toward the head

Question 9

Inferior/caudal

Answer 9

Below; toward the lower end of the spine

Question 10

Superficial/external

Answer 10

Closer to the surface of the body

Question 11

Deep/internal

Answer 11

Closer to the center of the body

Question 12

Supine

Answer 12

Lying face up

Question 13

Prone

Answer 13

Lying face down

Question 14

Sagittal

Answer 14

Cuts through the body from front to back and divides the body into right and left sections

Question 15

Midsagittal

Answer 15

Cuts through the midline of the body from front to back and divides the body into equal right and left sections

Question 16

Midsagittal

Answer 16

Cuts through the midline of the body from front to back and divides the body into equal right and left sections

Question 17

Frontal/coronal

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Transverse/horizontal/axial

Answer 18

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