Directional Terms

Question 1

anterior

Answer 1

toward the front of the body- belly is anterior to the spine

Question 2

posterior

Answer 2

toward the back of the body- spine is posterior to the belly

Question 3

inferior

Answer 3

towards the bottom- feet are inferior to the knees

Question 4

superior

Answer 4

towards the top- head is superior to the chest

Question 5

medial

Answer 5

towards midline of the body- bridge of the nose is medial to the eyes

Question 6

lateral

Answer 6

body part is farther away from the midline- eyes are lateral to the nose

Question 7

proximal

Answer 7

body part is closer to point of attachment or origin, or entire body, if attachment point is the shoulder, then the elbow is proximal to the hand

Question 8

distal

Answer 8

opposite of proximal, body part is farther from point of attachment

Question 9

superficial

Answer 9

closer to the surface- skin is superficial to the heart

Question 10

deep

Answer 10

farther from the surface- brain is deep to the skull