Chapter 5- Medical Terminology

Question 1

Part of the body, or any body part, nearer to the head from a specific reference point

Answer 1

Superior (Ex- Knee is superior to the foot)

Question 2

Part of the body nearer to the feet

Answer 2

Inferior (Ex- The knee is inferior to the pelvis)

Question 3

Parts of the body that lie farther from the midline (outer), generally referring to the outside, or side of body.

Answer 3

Lateral

Question 4

Parts that lie closer to the midline (inner) structures

Answer 4

Medial (Ex- Pt has a 2-inch laceration on the medial (inner) aspect of the thigh)

Question 5

Structures that are closer to the trunk or closer to reference point

Answer 5

Proximal (Ex- The elbow is proximal to the wrist because it is closer to the trunk than the wrist)

Question 6

Structures that are farther from the trunk or nearer to the free end of the extremity

Answer 6

Distal (Ex- The elbow is distal to the shoulder because it is further from the trunk than the shoulder)

Question 7

Closer to or on the skin

Answer 7

Superficial (Ex- A superficial burn involves only the top layer of skin, such as sunburn)

Question 8

Farther inside the body or tissue and away from the skin

Answer 8

Deep (Ex- a laceration involving a deep cut into the tissue with a knife)

Question 9

Describes the belly side of the body, or the anterior surface of the body

Answer 9

Ventral (More commonly referred to as “Anterior”)

Question 10

Refers to the spinal side of the body, or posterior surface of the body, including the back of the hand

Answer 10

Dorsal (More commonly referred to as “Posterior”)

Question 11

Front region of the hand (the palm)

Answer 11

Palmar Surface

Question 12

Bottom of foot

Answer 12

Plantar Surface

Question 13

The tip of a structure

Answer 13

Apex (Plural: Apices) Ex- the apex of the heart is the bottom (inferior portion) of the ventricles in the left side of the chest.

Question 14

Bending of a joint

Answer 14

Flexion

Question 15

Straightening of a joint

Answer 15

Extension

Question 16

Motion toward the midline

Answer 16

Adduction (ex- Holding your arm down by your side)

Question 17

Motion away from the midline

Answer 17

Abduction (Ex- Holding your arm straight out, away from the body)

Question 18

A body part that appears on both sides of the midline

Answer 18

Bilateral

Question 19

Something that appears on only one side of the body

Answer 19

Unilaterally

Question 20

1) Lying face down

2) Lying face up

Answer 20

1) Prone position

2) Supine Position

Question 21

Sitting upright (Ex- Sitting with the back of the stretcher at a 45 degree angle)

Answer 21

Fowler position