Anatomical terms

Question 1

Anatomical position

Answer 1

the body is erect, feet slightly apart, and palms facing forward with thumbs pointing away from the body.

Question 2

Superior (cranial)

Answer 2

Towards the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above

Question 3

Example of superior direction

Answer 3

The head is superior to the abdomen

Question 4

Inferior (caudal)

Answer 4

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below

Question 5

Example of Inferior direction

Answer 5

The navel is inferior to the chin

Question 6

Anterior (ventral)

Answer 6

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of →

Question 7

Example of anterior direction

Answer 7

The breastbone is anterior to the spine

Question 8

Posterior (dorsal)

Answer 8

Toward or at the back of the body; behind ←

Question 9

Example of posterior direction

Answer 9

The heart is posterior to the breastbone

Question 10

Medial

Answer 10

Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of →I←

Question 11

Example of medial direction

Answer 11

The heart is medial to the arm

Question 12

Lateral

Answer 12

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of ←I→

Question 13

Example of lateral direction

Answer 13

The arms are lateral to the chest

Question 14

Intermediate

Answer 14

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure

Question 15

Example of intermediate direction

Answer 15

The collarbone is intermediate between the breastbone and shoulder

Question 16

Proximal

Answer 16

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Question 17

Example of proximal direction

Answer 17

The elbow is proximal to the wrist

Question 18

Distal

Answer 18

Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Question 19

Example of distal direction

Answer 19

The knee is distal to the thigh

Question 20

Superficial (external)

Answer 20

Toward or at the body surface

Question 21

Example of superficial direction

Answer 21

The skin superficial to the skeletal muscles

Question 22

Deep (internal)

Answer 22

Away from the body surface; more internal

Question 23

Example of deep direction

Answer 23

The lungs are deep to the skin

Question 24

The axial part contains:

Answer 24

head, neck, and trunk (torso)

Question 25

The appendicular part contains:

Answer 25

appendages or limbs (upper and lower)

Question 26

Sagittal plane

Answer 26

vertical; divides the body into left and right parts

Question 27

Median (midsagittal) plane

Answer 27

a sagittal plane that lies exactly in the midline

Question 28

Parasagittal plane

Answer 28

sagittal plane offset from the midline

Question 29

Frontal plane

Answer 29

vertical; divide the body into anterior and posterior parts, aka coronal plane

Question 30

Transverse plane

Answer 30

horizontal; divides the body from right to left, superior and inferior parts, aka a cross-section

Question 31

Oblique sections

Answer 31

cuts made diagonally between the horizontal and the vertical planes

Question 32

Dorsal body cavity

Answer 32

protects the fraglie nervous system organs, contains cranial and vertebral cavity

Question 33

Cranial cavity

Answer 33

in the skull, encases the brain

Question 34

Vertebral (spinal) cavity

Answer 34

runs within the bony vertebral column, encloses the spinal cord

Question 35

Ventral body cavity

Answer 35

The more anterior and larger closed body cavity, houses the viscera

Question 36

Thoracic cavity

Answer 36

surrounded by the ribs and muscles of the chest

Question 37

Viscera

Answer 37

an organ in a body cavity

Question 38

Pleural cavity

Answer 38

each enveloped a lung, and the medial, mediastinum

Question 39

Pericardial cavity

Answer 39

found in the mediastinum, encloses the heart and surrounds the remaining thoracic organs

Question 40

Abdominopelvic cavity

Answer 40

Inferior to the thoracic cavity, 2 parts

Question 41

Abdominal cavity contains:

Answer 41

the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, and other organs (superior)

Question 42

Pelvic cavity contains:

Answer 42

urinary bladder, some reproductive organs, and the rectum (inferior)

Question 43

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Answer 43

Large cavity with several organs, therefore divided into smaller areas for study: Left and right upper quadrant, Left and right lower quadrant (view of patient)

Question 44

The umbilical region

Answer 44

The centermost region deep to and surrounding the umbilicus (navel)

Question 45

The epigastric region

Answer 45

located superior to the umbilical region

Question 46

The pubic (hypogastric) region

Answer 46

located inferior to the umbilical region

Question 47

The right and left inguinal (iliac) regions

Answer 47

located lateral to the hypogastric region (iliac = superior part of hipbone)

Question 48

The right and left lateral (lumbar) regions

Answer 48

lie lateral to the umbilical region

Question 49

The right and left hypochondriac regions

Answer 49

lie lateral to the epigastric region and deep to the ribs (chondro=cartilage)