Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

median sagittal

Answer 1

vertical plane that passes through the midline of the body, dividing it into equal left and right halves

Question 2

sagittal

Answer 2

vertical plane parallel to the median sagittal plane

Question 3

coronal

Answer 3

vertical plane perpendicular to the sagittal that divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

Question 4

transverse

Answer 4

reference to head, neck, trunk=any horizontal plane that divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) portions
reference to limbs= any plane perpendicular to the long axis of the element

Question 5

longitudinal

Answer 5

plane that sections an element parallel to its long axis

Question 6

superior or cranial

Answer 6

one structure being above or closer to the head than another

Question 7

inferior or caudal

Answer 7

one structure being below or closer to the feet or tail bone (coccyx) than another

Question 8

anterior or ventral

Answer 8

one structure being in front of another

Question 9

posterior or dorsal

Answer 9

one structure being behind another

Question 10

medial

Answer 10

one structure being closer to the median sagittal plane than another

Question 11

lateral

Answer 11

one structure being farther away from the median sagittal plane than another

Question 12

proximal

Answer 12

structure of the upper limb or lower limb that is closer to the root (attachment) of the limb than another

Question 13

distal

Answer 13

structure of the upper or lower limb that is farther away from the root of the limb than another

Question 14

palmar (hands/feet)

Answer 14

ventral surface (palm) of the hand or fingers

Question 15

dorsal (hands/feet)

Answer 15

dorsal surface (back) of the hand or fingers

Question 16

plantar (hands/feet)

Answer 16

ventral surface (bottom or sole) of the foot or toes

Question 17

dorsal (hands/feet)

Answer 17

dorsal surface (top) of the foot or toes

Question 18

mesial (teeth)

Answer 18

toward the anterior midline of the dental arch

Question 19

distal (teeth)

Answer 19

away from the anterior midline of the dental arch

Question 20

lingual (teeth)

Answer 20

toward the tongue

Question 21

labial (teeth)

Answer 21

toward the lips (reference to incisors and canines)

Question 22

buccal (teeth)

Answer 22

toward the cheek (reference to the premolars and molars)

Question 23

occlusal (teeth)

Answer 23

chewing surface that contacts the teeth in other jaw (reference to premolars and molars)

Question 24

superficial or external

Answer 24

one structure being closer to the outside or exterior surface than another

Question 25

deep or internal

Answer 25

one structure being closer to the center or middle of the head, trunk, or limbs than another

Question 26

flexion

Answer 26

decreases the angle between two parts

Question 27

extension

Answer 27

increases the angle between two parts

Question 28

abduction

Answer 28

appendage moves away from the median sagittal plane

Question 29

adduction

Answer 29

appendage moves toward the median sagittal plane

Question 30

rotation

Answer 30

occurs around a central axis of a body part

Question 31

pronation

Answer 31

rotary movement of the forearm so that the palm faces posteriorly (in extension) or inferiorly (in flexion)

Question 32

supination

Answer 32

rotary movement of the forearm so the palm faves anteriorly (in extension) or superiorly (in flexion)

Question 33

eversion

Answer 33

turning the sole of the foot outward to face away from the midline

Question 34

inversion

Answer 34

turning the sole of the foot inward to face toward the midline

Question 35

plantarflexion

Answer 35

movement of the foot at the ankle so that the ball of the foot moves inferiorly, as when you stand on your toes

Question 36

dorsifelxion

Answer 36

movement of the foot at the ankle so that the ball of the foot moves superiorly, as when you stand on your heels

Question 37

circumduction

Answer 37

movement of an appendage in a circular or cone shaped path (involves abduction, adduction, flexion, extension)

Question 38

opposition

Answer 38

movement of the thumb to touch a fingertip (involves abduction, flexion, and medial rotation of the thumb)