Directional Terms

Question 1

Anterior

Answer 1

Toward the front

Question 2

Posterior

Answer 2

Toward the back/behind

Question 3

Superior

Answer 3

top/above

Question 4

Inferior

Answer 4

towards the bottom/below

Question 5

Ventral

Answer 5

Towards the belly/belly side
( equivalent to anterior when referring to human body)

Question 6

Dorsal

Answer 6

Toward the back
(equivalent to posterior when referring to human body)

Question 7

Rostral

Answer 7

Toward the beak

Question 8

Caudal

Answer 8

Toward the tail or end

Question 9

Medial

Answer 9

Toward the center/middle

Question 10

Midline

Answer 10

At the center/middle

Question 11

Lateral

Answer 11

Away from the midline, towards the sides (right or left)

Question 12

Proximal

Answer 12

closest to the center or point of attachment

Question 13

Distal

Answer 13

Farthest from the center

Question 14

Superficial

Answer 14

closer to the surface

Question 15

Deep

Answer 15

further inside/ away from the surface/ toward the interior of the body

Question 16

Cranial

Answer 16

Toward the head

Question 17

Cephalic

Answer 17

(same as cranial)

Question 18

Frontal

Answer 18

toward the front

Question 19

Ipsilateral

Answer 19

on the same side

Question 20

Contralateral

Answer 20

on the opposite side

Question 21

Bilateral

Answer 21

on both sides

Question 22

Unilateral

Answer 22

on one side

Question 23

Parietal

Answer 23

wall of a body cavity

Question 24

Visceral

Answer 24

organs inside cavities of the body (viscera= the organs)

Question 25

Is the thumb lateral or medial to the pinky/smallest finger?

Answer 25

Lateral

Question 26

For a human, is the vertebral column ventral or dorsal to the belly button/umbilicus?

Answer 26

dorsal

Question 27

Which term best describes where my cerebrum is compared to by brainstem?

Answer 27

Cerebrum is superior, dorsal b/c of the horizontal bend of the neuroaxis, cranial, cephalic, and maybe superficial but not a great use of the term, not really rostral though you may have considered it—but the cerebrum is not really more toward the beak.

Question 28

Frontal plane

Answer 28

creating front and back

• also known as coronal

Question 29

Sagittal Plane

Answer 29

divides side to side, right and left

Question 30

Transverse Plane

Answer 30

cut horizontal through the belly button.
- divides body into superior and inferior parts (top/bottom)
- horizontal or axil plane