Basic Human Body: Location and Position

Question 1

Anatomic Position

Answer 1

• Standing upright
• Facing forward
• Arms at the side w/ palms forward
• feet slightly apart

Question 2

Superior

Answer 2

Tower the top of the head

Question 3

Inferior

Answer 3

Near or towards the tail; lower body proper

EX: foot is apart of interior extremity

Question 4

Anterior

Answer 4

In front of or front (front body)

Question 5

Posterior

Answer 5

In behind of or behind; back body

EX: shoulder blades are posterior side of body

Question 6

Ventral

Answer 6

Towards the front of the body

Question 7

Dorsal

Answer 7

Towards the back of the body

Question 8

Medial

Answer 8

Towards the midline or median-plane

Question 9

Lateral

Answer 9

Away from the median

Question 10

Internal

Answer 10

Away from the surface, deep

Question 11

External

Answer 11

towards the surface, superficial

Question 12

Central

Answer 12

At or near the center.

Central is the opposite of “peripheral” which means away from the center.

Question 13

Peripheral

Answer 13

Peripheral means “away from the center.”

It refers to areas away from the center of the body or a body part.

For example, the hands are peripheral to the shoulder. The toes are peripheral to the knees.

Question 14

Proximal

Answer 14

Closer or towards the trunk or the point of origin of the body part

Question 15

Distal

Answer 15

Away or farthest away from the trunk or the point of the origin of the body part

Question 16

Parietal

Answer 16

of, relating to, attached to, or denoting the wall of the body or of a body cavity or hollow structure.

Question 17

Visceral

Answer 17

the soft internal organs of the body, including the lungs, the heart, and the organs of the digestive, excretory, reproductive, and circulatory systems.

Question 18

Divisions of the Back (Spinal Column)

Answer 18

• Cervical (C1-7)
• Thoracic (T 1-12)
• Lumbar (L1-5)
• Sacral (S1-5)
• Coccygeal (tailbone)