Directional Terms

Question 1

Anatomical Position

Answer 1

standing erect, face forward, arms at side, palms facing forward

Question 2

Superior (cranial)

Answer 2

toward the head end of the body; upper (example, the hand is part of the superior extremity).

Question 3

Inferior (caudal)

Answer 3

away from the head; lower (example, the foot is part of the inferior extremity).

Question 4

Anterior

Answer 4

front (example, the kneecap is located on the anterior side of the leg).

Question 5

Posterior

Answer 5

back (example, the shoulder blades are located on the posterior side of the body).

Question 6

Medial

Answer 6

toward the midline of the body (example, the big toe is located at the medial side of the foot).

Question 7

Lateral

Answer 7

away from the midline of the body (example, the little toe is located at the lateral side of the foot).

Question 8

Proximal

Answer 8

toward or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part (example, the proximal end of the femur joins with the pelvic bone).

Question 9

Distal

Answer 9

away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part (example, the hand is located at the distal end of the forearm).

Question 10

Superficial

Answer 10

towards the surface

Question 11

Deep

Answer 11

away from the surface

Question 12

Transverse Plane

Answer 12

horizontal plane

Question 13

Sagittal Plane

Answer 13

medial plane

Question 14

Coronal Plane

Answer 14

frontal plane

Question 15

Supine

Answer 15

face up

Question 16

Prone

Answer 16

face down

Question 17

Differentiation

Answer 17

the process by which a cell becomes specialized to perform a specific function