Body Directional Terms

Question 1

What does ‘Anterior’ mean?

Answer 1

In front of, toward the front of the body

Question 2

What does ‘Posterior’ mean?

Answer 2

Behind, or toward the back of the body

Question 3

What does ‘Superior’ mean?

Answer 3

Above, or toward the head or upper part of the body

Question 4

What does the Sagittal Plane do?

Answer 4

Divides body into right and left portions

Question 5

What does the Frontal Plane do?

Answer 5

Divides body into front and back portions

Question 6

What does the Transverse Plane do?

Answer 6

Divides body into top and bottom portions

Question 7

What does ‘Inferior’ mean in anatomical terms?

Answer 7

Below, or toward the lower part of a structure or of the body

‘Inferior’ is used to describe the position of body parts in relation to each other.

Question 8

What does ‘Medial’ refer to?

Answer 8

Toward, or at the midline of the body, on the inner side of

‘Medial’ is used to describe the location of body parts relative to the midline.

Question 9

Define ‘Lateral’ in anatomical context.

Answer 9

Away from the midline of the body, on the outer side of

‘Lateral’ indicates the position of a body part that is further from the midline.

Question 10

What does ‘proximal’ mean?

Answer 10

Close to, or toward the point of attachment to the trunk of the body

Used in anatomical terminology to describe locations on limbs.

Question 11

What is the meaning of ‘distal’?

Answer 11

Farther from, or away from the point of attachment to the trunk of the body

Commonly used to describe positions on limbs and extremities.

Question 12

Define ‘superficial’ in anatomical terms.

Answer 12

Toward the body surface

Indicates a position closer to the outer layer of the body.

Question 13

What does ‘Deep’ refer to in anatomical terms?

Answer 13

Away from the body surface, more internal

Question 14

What is the term for a hollow space in the body?

Answer 14

Cavity

Question 15

What does the ‘Cranial’ cavity contain?

Answer 15

Brain

Question 16

What does the ‘Spinal’ cavity contain?

Answer 16

Spinal cord

Question 17

Which organs are found in the ‘Thoracic’ cavity?

Answer 17

• Lungs
• Heart

Question 18

What organs are located in the ‘Abdominal’ cavity?

Answer 18

• Stomach
• Kidneys
• Intestines
• Other organs

Question 19

What organs are housed in the ‘Pelvic’ cavity?

Answer 19

• Bladder
• Reproductive organs
• Rectum
• Lower parts of intestines

Question 20

What is the larger cavity that contains the cranial and spinal cavities called?

Answer 20

Dorsal cavity

Question 21

What is the larger cavity that contains the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities called?

Answer 21

Ventral cavity