Basic Anatomical Vocabulary

Question 1

Anterior (ventral)

Answer 1

nearer the front

Question 2

posterior (dorsal)

Answer 2

nearer the back

Question 3

superior (cranial)

Answer 3

upward or nearer the head

Question 4

inferior (caudal)

Answer 4

downward or nearer the feet

Question 5

medial

Answer 5

toward the midline or medial plane

Question 6

lateral

Answer 6

farther from the midline or median plane

Question 7

proximal

Answer 7

near to a reference point

Question 8

distal

Answer 8

away from a reference point

Question 9

superficial

Answer 9

closer to the surface

Question 10

deep

Answer 10

farther from the surface

Question 11

median plane

Answer 11

divides body into equal right and left halves

Question 12

midsagittal plane

Answer 12

median plane

Question 13

frontal (coronal) plane

Answer 13

divides body into equal or unequal anterior and posterior parts

Question 14

transverse plane

Answer 14

divides body into equal or unequal superior and inferior parts (cross sections or axial sections)

Question 15

abduction

Answer 15

movement away from a central reference point

Question 16

adduction

Answer 16

movement toward a central reference point

Question 17

lateral rotation

Answer 17

turning a bone or limb around its long axis laterally or away from the midline

Question 18

medial rotation

Answer 18

opposite of lateral rotation; turning medially towards the midline

Question 19

flexion

Answer 19

usually a movement that decreases the joint’s angle

Question 20

extension

Answer 20

usually a movement that increases the joint’s angle

Question 21

flexion of the spine

Answer 21

decreases the angle between the vertebral bodies. When we bed forward.

Question 22

extension of the spine

Answer 22

increases the angle between the vertebral bodies. When we bend backward

Question 23

pronation

Answer 23

rotation of the radius about the ulna in the forearm, causes the palm to face posteriorly

Question 24

supination

Answer 24

opposite of pronation; causes the palm to face anteriorly or superiorly

Question 25

dorsiflexion

Answer 25

lifting the foot at the ankle joint (similar to extension of the wrist)