Directional Anatomical Terms

Question 1

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Answer 1

Separates anterior from posterior

Question 2

Horizontal (Transverse) Plane

Answer 2

Separates superior from inferior

Question 3

(mid)sagittal (Median) Plane

Answer 3

Separates left from right and roughly, equally divides the body in half

Question 4

Superior

Answer 4

Above; at a higher level; towards the head

Question 5

Inferior

Answer 5

Below; at a lower level; towards the feet

Question 6

Anterior (ventral)

Answer 6

The front; before

Question 7

Posterior (dorsal)

Answer 7

The back; behind

Question 8

Medial

Answer 8

Towards the body’s longitudinal axis (the middle)

Question 9

Lateral

Answer 9

Away from the body’s longitudinal axis (away from the midline)

Question 10

Intermediate

Answer 10

Middle of the range; between two structures

Question 11

Proximal

Answer 11

Towards an attached base

Question 12

Distal

Answer 12

Away from an attached base

Question 13

Superficial

Answer 13

Close to the body surface; shallow

Question 14

Deep

Answer 14

Farther from the body surface