Directional Terms

Question 1

Front of body

Answer 1

Anterior

Question 2

Back of body

Answer 2

Posterior

Question 3

Top, closest to the head

Answer 3

Superior, or cephalad

Question 4

Bottom, closest to the feet

Answer 4

Inferior, or caudad (toward the tail)

Question 5

Close to the point of attachment

Answer 5

Proximal

Question 6

Farthest from the point of attachment

Answer 6

Distal

Question 7

Close to midline

Answer 7

Medial

Question 8

Away from midline

Answer 8

Lateral

Question 9

Far from the skin surface

Answer 9

Deep

Question 10

Close to the skin surface

Answer 10

Superficial

Question 11

Front surface of hand

Answer 11

Palmar

Question 12

Bottom surface of foot

Answer 12

Plantar

Question 13

Tip of a structure

Answer 13

Apex

Question 14

Decrease angle of a joint

Answer 14

Flexion

Question 15

Increase angle of a joint

Answer 15

Extension

Question 16

Appears on both sides of

Answer 16

Bilateral

Question 17

Appears on one side

Answer 17

Unilateral

Question 18

To lie face down

Answer 18

Prone

Question 19

To lie face up

Answer 19

Supine

Question 20

To sit at 90 degrees

Answer 20

Fowler position

Question 21

To sit at 45 degrees

Answer 21

Semi-fowler position

Question 22

To lie on the right side of the body

Answer 22

Right lateral recumbent

Question 23

To lie on the left side of the body

Answer 23

Left lateral recumbent.

Question 24

An imaginary vertical line drawn from the middle of the forehead through the nose and the umbilicus (navel) to the floor, dividing the body into equal left and right halves.

Answer 24

Mid-sagittal line

Question 25

Plane that divides body into top and bottom portions

Answer 25

Transverse plane or horizontal plane

Question 26

Plane that divides body into right and left halves, but is not necessarily equal

Answer 26

Sagittal plane

Question 27

Plane that divides body into front and back portions

Answer 27

Coronal plane

Question 28

The position of reference in which the patient stands facing forward, arms at the side, with the palms of the hands forward.

Answer 28

Anatomical position