Anatomy UNIT 1: DIrectional Terms & Cuts/Planes

Question 1

Left

Answer 1

Patient’s left (your right)

Question 2

Right

Answer 2

Patient’s right (your left)

Question 3

Superior

Answer 3

Above or towards the top

Question 4

Inferior

Answer 4

Below or towards the bottom

Question 5

Midline

Answer 5

Imaginary line that divides the body into equal left/right - it is a line in the middle of the body

Question 6

Medial

Answer 6

TOWARDS the midline!

Question 7

Lateral

Answer 7

AWAY from the midline!

Question 8

Anterior

Answer 8

Toward the front

Question 9

Posterior

Answer 9

Toward the back

Question 10

Ventral (more specific than anterior)

Answer 10

On/at belly’s surface

Question 11

Dorsal (more specific than posterior)

Answer 11

On/at backbone’s surface

Question 12

Distal

Answer 12

Towards the distant end of an extremity (part sticking out) or appendage (arm/leg) DISTal=DISTant

Question 13

Proximal

Answer 13

Towards the beginning of an extremity or appendage (closer to trunk or torso)

Question 14

Deep

Answer 14

(Deep) into tissues; further below the surface

Question 15

Superficial

Answer 15

Shallow; towards the surface

Question 16

Intermediate

Answer 16

In between two organs/objects

Question 17

Caudal

Answer 17

On/at the tail end (butt) compared to head

Question 18

Cranial/Cephalic

Answer 18

On/at the head end

Question 19

Prone

Answer 19

Face down, back exposed

Question 20

Supine

Answer 20

Lying on back, belly & face exposed

Question 21

Where does the line for Dorsal and Ventral extend on a dog or other 4-legged animal?

Answer 21

Vertical. Starting on the belly surface (ventral up to back surface (dorsal)

Question 22

Where does the line for Cranial and Caudal extend on a dog or 4-legged animal?

Answer 22

Horizontal. From their head (Cranial) ——> to their butt/tail end (Caudal)

Question 23

Where does the line for Anterior and Posterior extend on a dog or 4-legged animal?

Answer 23

Similar to Cranial and Caudal. It is horizontal. Starting at front (the dog’s head/chest) for Anterior then ending where the tail or butt is for Posterior.

Question 24

Where does the line for Superior and Inferior extend on a dog or 4-legged animal?

Answer 24

(Sort of) similar to Dorsal and Ventral. It is vertical. The superior side on the top like dorsal and the inferior side on bottom like ventral. The difference is that Superior/Inferior is not specific to back and belly. Think of superior like closest point of the dog to the ceiling above it. And Inferior like closest point of the dog to the floor.

Question 25

Sagittal

Answer 25

Separates left and right

Question 26

MIDsagittal

Answer 26

Goes through the MIDline

Question 27

PARAsagittal

Answer 27

PARAllel but of center (left and right are not divided equally)

Question 28

Frontal or Coronal (In HUMANS)

Answer 28

(Vertical) Separates ventral and dorsal

Question 29

Transverse (In HUMANS)

Answer 29

(Horizontal/Cross sectional) Separates superior and Inferior, would cause circular slices

Question 30

Cross section

Answer 30

A view of tissue along a transverse cut

Question 31

Oblique

Answer 31

angular/diagonal

Question 32

Frontal or Coronal (In DOGS)

Answer 32

Horizontal, separates dorsal and ventral

Question 33

Transverse (In DOGS)

Answer 33

Vertical, separates cranial and caudel