Body Planes and Orientation

Question 1

Proximal

Answer 1

closer in to the center
proximal and approximate come from the same word and mean close

Question 2

Distal

Answer 2

farther away from the center
distal and distance come from the same word and mean far

Question 3

Lateral

Answer 3

out to the side
think of a quarterback lateraling a football to a running back

Question 4

Medial

Answer 4

toward the middle
like the median of a highway

Question 5

Ventral / Antral / Anterior

Answer 5

the front
the word ventral means “stomach”

Question 6

Dorsal / Posterior

Answer 6

the back
the dorsal fin on a shark is on its back

Question 7

Cranial

Answer 7

toward the top

Question 8

Caudal

Answer 8

toward the bottom
from Latin, for “tail”

Question 9

Superior

Answer 9

above

Question 10

Inferior

Answer 10

below

Question 11

Prone

Answer 11

lying down on belly

Question 12

Supine

Answer 12

lying down on back

Question 13

Contralateral

Answer 13

opposite side

Question 14

ipsilateral

Answer 14

same side

Question 15

Unilateral

Answer 15

one side

Question 16

Bilateral

Answer 16

both sides

Question 17

Dorsum

Answer 17

on the top of the hand or foot

Question 18

Plantar

Answer 18

on the sole of the foot

Question 19

Palmar

Answer 19

on the palm of the hand

Question 20

Sagittal

Answer 20

divides the body along a hypothetical plane from right to left
“sagitta” is Latin for “arrow”; think of this as dividing the body in half, as if someone shot an arrow toward it.

Question 21

Coronal

Answer 21

divides the body along a hypothetical plane from back to front
“corona” is Latin for “crown”; this plane divides the body in half from the top of the head down like someone putting a down on the head

Question 22

Transverse

Answer 22

divides the body from top to bottom