Chapter 2 Directional Terms

Question 1

anterior

Answer 1

front side of the body

Question 2

ventral

Answer 2

front side of the body

Question 3

posterior

Answer 3

back side of the body

Question 4

dorsal

Answer 4

back side of the body

Question 5

deep

Answer 5

away from the surface

Question 6

superficial

Answer 6

on the surface

Question 7

proximal

Answer 7

near the point of attachment to the trunk; near the beginning of a structure
the proximal end of the femur joins the hip socket

Question 8

distal

Answer 8

far from the point of attachment to the trunk; far from the beginning of a structure
the distal end of the femur joins the knee

Question 9

inferior

Answer 9

below another structure
the feet are inferior to the knees

Question 10

superior

Answer 10

above another structure
the head is superior to the neck

Question 11

medial

Answer 11

pertaining to the middle; nearer the medial plane of the body
when in anatomic position (palms out) the pinky is medial

Question 12

lateral

Answer 12

pertaining to the side
when in anatomical position (palms out) the thumb is lateral

Question 13

supine

Answer 13

lying on the back

Question 14

prone

Answer 14

lying on the stomach

Question 15

frontal (coronal) plane

Answer 15

vertical plane; anterior and posterior
through both ears

Question 16

sagittal (lateral) plane

Answer 16

lengthwise; right and left
through the nose

Question 17

transverse (axial) plane

Answer 17

horizontal/cross-sectional
across both eyes