Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

Anatomical Position

Answer 1

Body erect, feet slightly apart, palms facing forward, thumbs pointing away from the body

Question 2

Superior (=Cranial)

Answer 2

Toward the head (above)

Question 3

Inferior (=Caudal)

Answer 3

Away from the head (below)

Question 4

Anterior (=Ventral)

Answer 4

Toward the front of the body (in front of)

Question 5

Posterior (=Dorsal)

Answer 5

Toward the back of the body (behind)

Question 6

Medial

Answer 6

Toward the midline

Question 7

Lateral

Answer 7

Away from the midline

Question 8

Intermediate

Answer 8

Between a medial and lateral structure

Question 9

Proximal

Answer 9

Nearer to the limb’s origin body part

Question 10

Distal

Answer 10

Farther from the limb’s origin body part

Question 11

Superficial

Answer 11

Toward (nearer to) the body’s surface; External

Question 12

Deep

Answer 12

Away (further) from the body’s surface; Internal

Question 13

Sagittal

Answer 13

Divides body into left and right parts

Question 14

Midsagittal

Answer 14

Sagittal plane that lies on the midline, dividing the body into equal left and right halves

Question 15

Parasagittal

Answer 15

Sagittal plane that splits the body into unequal left and right parts

Question 16

Frontal (=Coronal)

Answer 16

Divides the body into anterior and posterior parts

Question 17

Transverse (cross section)

Answer 17

Plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts (horizontal cut)

Question 18

Oblique section

Answer 18

Diagonal cuts that pass through a transverse plane and a sagittal or coronal plane

Question 19

Ipsilateral

Answer 19

On the same side of the body as another structure

Question 20

Contralateral

Answer 20

On the opposite side of the body relative to another structure