Body planes and directions

Question 1

anatomical position

Answer 1

standard position, palms forward, body is erect, head up.

Question 2

plane

Answer 2

imaginary flat surface that divides the body into two parts

Question 3

coronal plane

Answer 3

vertical plane that divides the body into front and back sections

Question 4

anterior

Answer 4

the front of the body

Question 5

prone position

Answer 5

lying face down

Question 6

dorsal and supine

Answer 6

lying face up

Question 7

anteroposterior

Answer 7

direction moves from outside the body through the posterior section and then through the anterior section

Question 8

sagittal plane

Answer 8

vertical plane that divides the body into right and left sections

Question 9

medial

Answer 9

moving from either side of the body toward the midline

Question 10

lateral

Answer 10

moving from the midline toward either side of the body

Question 11

bilateral

Answer 11

both sides

Question 12

transverse plane

Answer 12

horizontal plane that divides the body into upper and lower sections

Question 13

posterior or dorsal

Answer 13

back of the body

Question 14

superior section

Answer 14

upper half of the body

Question 15

inferior section

Answer 15

lower half of the body

Question 16

cephalad direction

Answer 16

moving towards the head

Question 17

caudad

Answer 17

moving towards the tailbone

Question 18

distal direction

Answer 18

moving from the truck of the body toward the end of a limb

Question 19

proximal direction

Answer 19

moving from the end of a limb towards the truck of the body

Question 20

external

Answer 20

structures on the surface of the body

Question 21

cranial cavity

Answer 21

contains the brain and cranial nerves

Question 23

spinal cavity

Answer 23

continuation of the cranial cavity as it travels down the back. contains spinal cord and spinal nerves

Question 24

thoracic cavity

Answer 24

cavity within the chest that contains the lungs and the mediastinum

Question 25

mediastinum

Answer 25

small central area within the thoracic cavity, contains the trachea, esophagus and heart

Question 26

abdominal cavity

Answer 26

cavity within the abdomen

Question 27

pelvic cavity

Answer 27

continuation of the abdominal cavity, is surrounded by the hipbones

Question 28

abdominopelvic cavity

Answer 28

pelvic and abdominal cavities, contains viscera

Question 29

viscera

Answer 29

large internal organs, especially in the abdominal region