Anatomical Positions & Planes

Question 1

Standard body position (anatomical position)

Answer 1

Upright, face-forward position w/arms by side & palms facing forward, feet parallel & slightly apart

Question 2

Anterior (ventral)

Answer 2

Toward front of body

Question 3

Posterior (dorsal)

Answer 3

Toward back of body

Question 4

Medial

Answer 4

Toward midline of body (inside)

Question 5

Lateral

Answer 5

Toward side of body

Question 6

Proximal

Answer 6

Nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference point

Question 7

Distal

Answer 7

Farther from point of attachment or from a given reference point

Question 8

Superior (cranial)

Answer 8

Above, toward the head

Question 9

Inferior (caudal)

Answer 9

Below, toward lower end of spine

Question 10

Superficial (external)

Answer 10

Closer to the surface of 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

Saggital

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Midsaggital

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Frontal (coronal)

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Transverse (horizontal) (axial)

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Medial

Answer 18

Inside

Question 19

Superficial

Answer 19

Closer to the surface of the body