Anatomy Terminology

Question 1

supine position

Answer 1

lying on their back for anterior dissection

Question 2

prone position

Answer 2

lying facing down for back dissection

Question 3

superior

Answer 3

above

Question 4

inferior

Answer 4

below

Question 5

cranial

Answer 5

towards head

Question 6

caudal

Answer 6

towards tailbone

Question 7

anterior

Answer 7

towards the front

Question 8

posterior

Answer 8

towards the back

Question 9

ventral

Answer 9

towards the belly

Question 10

dorsal

Answer 10

towards the back

Question 11

medial

Answer 11

close to midline

Question 12

lateral

Answer 12

further from midline

Question 13

proximal

Answer 13

nearer the body/point of attachment

Question 14

distal

Answer 14

further from body/point of attachment

Question 15

superficial

Answer 15

nearer the surface

Question 16

deep

Answer 16

further in the body

Question 17

external

Answer 17

surface of hollow organs

Question 18

internal

Answer 18

inside of hollow organs

Question 19

median (midsaggital)

Answer 19

anatomical plane- line directly down the body

Question 20

frontal (coronal)

Answer 20

vertical plane which runs side to side (divides anterior and posterior)

Question 21

transverse

Answer 21

divides superior and inferior portions (horizontal)

Question 22

oblique

Answer 22

diagonal line

Question 23

flexion

Answer 23

decreases angle

Question 24

extension

Answer 24

increases angle

Question 25

abduction

Answer 25

moving away from the midline

Question 26

adduction

Answer 26

move towards midline

Question 27

circumduction

Answer 27

flexion, extension, adduction and abduction combined into a sequence