Common Terms Used When Discussing Anatomy

Question 1

Anatomical Position

Answer 1

standard position which body is facing forward, feet are parallel to each other, arms are at sides with palms facing forward

Question 2

Superior

Answer 2

toward the upper end of the body or body structure

Question 3

Inferior

Answer 3

toward the lower end of the body or body structure (opposite of superior)

Question 4

Anterior

Answer 4

toward the front of the body or body structure

Question 5

Posterior

Answer 5

toward the back of the body or body structure (opposite of anterior)

Question 6

Medial

Answer 6

toward the middle of the body or body structure

Question 7

Lateral

Answer 7

toward the outer sides of the body or body structure (opposite of medial)

Question 8

Intermediate

Answer 8

between medial and lateral

Question 9

Proximal

Answer 9

close to the origin of the body part or point of attachment

Question 10

Distal

Answer 10

away from the origin of the body part or point of attachment (opposite of proximal)

Question 11

Superficial

Answer 11

toward or at the body surface

Question 12

Deep

Answer 12

away from or below the body surface (opposite of superficial)

Question 13

Sagittal section

Answer 13

cut made along a longitudinal plane dividing the body into left and right parts

Question 14

Midsagittal section

Answer 14

sagittal section made down the median of the body

Question 15

Transverse section

cross section

Answer 15

cut made along a horizontal plane to divide the body into upper and lower regions

Question 16

Frontal sections

coronal sections

Answer 16

cut made along a longitudinal plane that divides the body into front and back regions

Question 17

Dorsal body cavity

Answer 17

contains the cranial and spinal columns

Question 18

Ventral body cavity

Answer 18

all structures within chest and abdomen; diaphragm divides the ventral cavity into thoracic cavity (superior to diaphragm); below the diaphragm are the abdominal and pelvic cavities