Body positions, anatomical planes and sections, directional terms

Question 1

Describe the anatomical position

Answer 1

Subject standing up facing the observer
Head level and eyes facing forwards
Lower limbs parallel
Feet flat on the floor and directed forward
Upper limbs at the sides with palms turned forwards

Question 2

What is the word for a body lying face down?

Answer 2

Prone

Question 3

What is the word for a body lying face up?

Answer 3

Supine

Question 4

When referring to the right or left side of the body, is this from the subject’s or observer’s point of view?

Answer 4

The subject’s

Question 5

How are directional terms used in anatomy?

Answer 5

To describe the location of one structure/body part relative to another structure

Question 6

Name the thirteen directional terms used to describe the human body

(6 pairs with opposite meanings, 1 stand-alone)

Answer 6

1. Superior and inferior
2. Anterior and posterior
3. Medial and lateral
4. Intermediate
5. Ipsilateral and contralateral
6. Proximal and distal
7. Superficial and deep

Question 7

Define superior

Answer 7

Toward the head or upper part of a structure

Question 8

Define inferior

Answer 8

Away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure

Question 9

Define anterior

Answer 9

Nearer to or at the front of the body

Question 10

Define posterior

Answer 10

Nearer to or at the back of the body

Question 11

Define medial

Answer 11

Nearer to the midline

Question 12

Define lateral

Answer 12

Farther from the midline

Question 13

Define intermediate

Answer 13

Between two structures

Question 14

Define ipsilateral

Answer 14

On the same side of the body as another structure

Question 15

Define contralateral

Answer 15

On the opposite side of the body from another structure

Question 16

Define proximal

Answer 16

Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk

Question 17

Define distal

Answer 17

Farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk

Question 18

Define superficial

Answer 18

Toward or on the surface of the body

Question 19

Define deep

Answer 19

Away from the surface of the body

Question 20

What is the midline?

Answer 20

An imaginary longitudinal line that divides the body into equal left and right sides

Question 21

What is a plane in anatomy?

Answer 21

An imaginary flat surface that divides the body to visualise interior structures

Question 22

Name the five planes through the human body

Answer 22

1. Median (midsaggital)
2. Paramedian (parasaggital)
3. Coronal (frontal)
4. Transverse (cross-sectional/horizontal)
5. Oblique

Question 23

Describe the median plane

Answer 23

An imaginary longitudinal line that divides the body or an organ into equal left and right sides (through the midline)

Question 24

Describe the paramedian plane

Answer 24

An imaginary longitudinal line that divides the body or an organ into unequal left and right sides

Question 25

Describe the coronal plane

Answer 25

An imaginary longitudinal line that divides the body or an organ into anterior and posterior portions

Question 26

Describe the transverse plane

Answer 26

An imaginary horizontal line that divides the body or an organ into superior and inferior portions

Question 27

Describe the oblique plane

Answer 27

An imaginary line through the body or an organ which is at an oblique angle i.e. not at 90 degrees

Question 28

What is a section in the study of a body region?

Answer 28

A cut of the body or an organ made along one of the directional planes