Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

Anatomical position

Answer 1

erect person; face forward, arms by side, palms facing forward; Provides a point of reference to describe different parts of the body

Question 2

Supine

Answer 2

lying up (palm up)

Question 3

Prone

Answer 3

face down (palm down)

Question 4

Superior

Answer 4

towards the head; Head is superior to the neck, knees superior to ankles

Question 5

Inferior

Answer 5

towards the tail; Pelvis is inferior to stomach, lips are inferior to the eyes

Question 6

Anterior

Answer 6

front of the body (ventral); Breast is anterior to spine

Question 7

Posterior

Answer 7

towards the back (dorsal); Ankles are posterior to the toes

Question 8

Proximal

Answer 8

nearest to point of attachment; Elbows are proximal to the wrist

Question 9

Distal

Answer 9

furthest from point of attachment; Fingers are distal to the wrist

Question 10

Medial

Answer 10

towards the midline; Nose is more medial to ears

Question 11

Lateral

Answer 11

away from midline; Ears are lateral to the lips

Question 12

Superficial

Answer 12

close to the surface; Epidermis is superficial to the dermis

Question 13

Deep

Answer 13

towards the interior of; Bone is deep to the adipose tissue

Question 14

Saggital

Answer 14

divides into L/R halves; doesn’t have to be equal

Midsaggital - divides down midline

Question 15

Frontal plane (coronal)

Answer 15

divides into anterior and posterior

Question 16

Transverse plane

Answer 16

divides into superior and inferior

Question 17

Oblique plane

Answer 17

doesn’t run parallel to frontal or transverse plane; on an angle

Question 18

Thoracic cavity

Answer 18

Lungs, mediastinum (eosophagus, trachea, thymus and heart)

Diaphragm divides thoracic and abdominal cavity

Question 19

Abdominal cavity

Answer 19

Stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, kidneys (largest cavity)

Question 20

Pelvic cavity

Answer 20

Bladder, part of the large intestine, reproductive organs

Abdominopelvic cavity - due to no physical division