Chapter 2 | Anatomic Directions

Question 1

anterior (ventral)

Answer 1

toward or at the front (belly) of the body

Example: The heart is located in the anterior part of the chest.

Question 2

posterior (dorsal)

Answer 2

toward or at the back (dorsum) of the body

Example: The spine is on the posterior side of the body.

Question 3

medial

Answer 3

toward the midline of the body

Example: The nose is located in the medial part of the face.

Question 4

lateral

Answer 4

toward the side of the body

Example: The ears are located on the lateral sides of the head.

Question 5

proximal

Answer 5

nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference point

Example: The elbow is proximal to the wrist.

Question 6

distal

Answer 6

farther from the point of attachment or from a given reference point

Example: The fingers are distal to the wrist.

Question 7

superior

Answer 7

above, in a higher position

Example: The head is located superior to the neck.

Question 8

inferior

Answer 8

below, in a lower position

Example: The feet are inferior to the knees.

Question 9

cranial

Answer 9

toward the head

Example: The brain is located in the cranial part of the body.

Question 10

caudal

Answer 10

toward the lower end of the spine; in humans, in an inferior direction

Example: The tailbone is located in the caudal region of the body.

Question 11

superficial

Answer 11

closer to the surface of the body

Example: The skin is a superficial layer of the body.

Question 12

deep

Answer 12

closer to the center of the body

Example: The heart is deep within the chest cavity.