Anatomy terminology

Question 1

What is the anatomical position?

Answer 1

Standing erect, head and eyes facing forward, arms by side and palms facing forwards, feet together and toes forward

Question 2

What are the other two positions of body?

Answer 2

Supline (lying on back)
Prone (lying on front)

Question 3

Superior vs Inferior (Example)

Answer 3

Superior: towards to head
Inferior: towards the feet
Example: the pelvis is inferior to the feet

Question 4

Cranial vs Caudal (Example)

Answer 4

Cranial: towards head
Caudal: towards tailbone/ cocyx
Example: the nose is cranial to the collarbone

Question 5

Anterior vs Posterior (Example)

Answer 5

Anterior: towards the front surface
Posterior: towards back surface of the body
Example: heel is posterior to the toes

Question 6

Ventral vs dorsal (Example)

Answer 6

Ventral: towards belly
Dorsal: towards back
Example: Kidneys are dorsal to the colon

Question 7

Medial vs lateral (Example)

Answer 7

Medial: closer to midline (line down body splitting it into L & R halves)
Lateral: further from midline
Example: thumb is lateral to 5th digit on hand

Question 8

Proximal vs Distal (when is it used?, example)

Answer 8

Used for structures with a beginning and an end (e.g. limbs and digestive tract) not used for structure on main trunk
Proximal: closer to origin
Distal: further from origin
Example: stomach proximal to colon, ankle distal to the knee)

Question 9

Superficial vs deep

Answer 9

Superficial: structures closer to surface
Deep: structures further from surface

Question 10

When is External vs internal used?

Answer 10

In describing hollow structures or organs

Question 11

3 anatomical planes

Answer 11

Median/ midsagittal: vertical plane through midline (divides body into L&R), can have parasagittal
Frontal: vertical plane from side to side, divides body into anterior and posterior
Transverse: Divides body into superior and inferior

Question 12

Flexion vs Extension

Answer 12

Flexion: bending, decreasing angle between joints
Extension: increasing angle between joints

Question 13

Abduction vs Addiction

Answer 13

Abduction: moving parts away from median
Adduction: moving parts towards the midline

Question 14

Circumduction

Answer 14

Flexion, abduction, extention, adduction combined in sequence
Moves limb in circle

Question 15

Labeling hand surfaces

Answer 15

Posterior/ back surface = dorsam
Anterior surface = palm

Question 16

Labeling feet surfaces

Answer 16

Superior surface (top) = dorsam
Inferior surface (sole) = plantar surface