Axis Vocabulary

Question 1

Superior

Answer 1

Higher

The head is superior to the neck

Question 2

Inferior

Answer 2

Lower

The foot is inferior to the hips

Question 3

Anterior

Answer 3

Ventral

Front

The nose is on the anterior surface of the face

The kneecap is found anteriorly in the lower limb.

Question 4

Posterior

Answer 4

Dorsal

Back

The triceps are posterior to biceps

Question 5

Medial

Answer 5

Towards the midline

The nose is medial to the ears

Question 6

Lateral

Answer 6

away from the midline

The eye is lateral to the nose

Question 7

Proximal

Answer 7

Closer to its origin

Describes the position of a structure with reference to its origin (point at which it originates)

The knee joint is proximal to the ankle joint

Question 8

Distal

Answer 8

Further away

Used in structures that are considered to have a beginning an and end (such as upper limb lower limb)

The wrist is distal to the elbow joint

Question 9

Ventral

Answer 9

From the Latin venter, meaning “belly”

Front or lower side of a body

Front or belly

Question 10

Dorsal

Answer 10

From the Latin dorsum meaning back

Back or upper side of the body

If talking about the skull, the dorsal side is the top

Question 11

Superficial

Answer 11

Closer to the outside of the body

Same as external

Question 12

Deep

Answer 12

Closer to the inside of the body

Same as internal