directional terms

Question 1

anterior (ventral)

Answer 1

front surface of the body

Question 2

posterior (dorsal)

Answer 2

back surface of the body

Question 3

superior

Answer 3

closer to head

Question 4

inferior

Answer 4

closer to feet

Question 5

proximal

Answer 5

closest to the point of attachment

Question 6

distal

Answer 6

furthest from the point of attachment

Question 7

medial

Answer 7

closest to the midline

Question 8

lateral

Answer 8

farthest from the midline

Question 9

deep

Answer 9

farthest from the surface of the skin

Question 10

superficial

Answer 10

closest to the surface of the skin

Question 11

palmar

Answer 11

front (palm) of hand

Question 12

plantar

Answer 12

bottom of foot

Question 13

apex (apices)

Answer 13

tip(s) of a structure

Question 14

flexion

Answer 14

decreasing the angle of a joint

Question 15

extension

Answer 15

increasing the angle of a joint

Question 16

abduction

Answer 16

motion away from the midline

Question 17

adduction

Answer 17

motion toward the midline

Question 18

bilateral

Answer 18

both sides

Question 19

unilateral

Answer 19

one side

Question 20

quadrants

Answer 20

four sections of the abdominal cavity (RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ)

Question 21

prone

Answer 21

face down

Question 22

supine

Answer 22

face up

Question 23

fowler

Answer 23

semi-reclining position with the head elevated (semi is 45’ and full is 90’)

Question 24

frontal (coronal) plane

Answer 24

divides front and back

Question 25

sagittal (lateral) plane

Answer 25

divides left and right [midline is midsagittal, where the sides are equal]

Question 26

transverse (axial) plane

Answer 26

divides top and bottom