Ch 1 - Directional Terms

Question 1

Superior

(cephalic or cranial)

Answer 1

Toward the head, or the upper part of a structure.

ex. The heart is superior to the liver.

Question 2

Inferior

(caudal)

Answer 2

Away from the head, or the lower part of a structure.

ex. The stomach is inferior to the lungs.

Question 3

Anterior

(ventral)

Answer 3

Nearer to or at the front of the body.

ex. The sternum (breastbone) is anterior to the heart.

Question 4

Posterior

(dorsal)

Answer 4

Nearer to or at the back of the body.

ex. The esophagus (food tube) is posterior to the trachea (windpipe).

Question 5

Medial

Answer 5

Nearer to the midline (an imaginary vertical line that divides the body into equal right and left sides).

ex. The ulna is medial to the radius.

Question 6

Lateral

Answer 6

Farther from the midline.

ex. The lungs are lateral to the heart.

Question 7

Intermediate

Answer 7

Between two structures.

ex. The transverse colon is intermediate to the ascending and descending colons.

Question 8

Ipsilateral

Answer 8

On the same side of the body as another structure.

ex. The gallbladder and ascending colon are ipsilateral.

Question 9

Contralateral

Answer 9

On the opposite side of the body from another structure.

ex. The ascending and descending colon are contralateral.

Question 10

Proximal

Answer 10

Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk; nearer to the origination of a structure.

ex. The humerus (arm bone) is proximal to the radius.

Question 11

Distal

Answer 11

Farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk; farther from the origination of a structure.

ex. The phalanges (finger bones) are distal to the carpals (wrist bones).

Question 12

Superficial

(external)

Answer 12

Toward or on the surface of the body.

ex. The ribs are superficial to the lungs.

Question 13

Deep

(Internal)

Answer 13

Away from the surface of the body.

ex. The ribs are deep to the skin of the chest and back.