Directional Terms

Question 1

Anterior

Answer 1

“in front of” or “the front surface of.”
It usually refers to the front side of the body. For example, your knee caps are on the anterior part of your body.

Question 2

Posterior

Answer 2

Towards the back of the body or a structure

Question 3

Superior

Answer 3

Toward the head or upper part of the body.
For example, the head is superior to the neck, and the heart is superior to the stomach.

Question 4

Inferior

Answer 4

Below or towards the bottom of the body, relative to a specific reference point.
Also referred to as caudal
For example, the feet are inferior to the hands.

Question 5

Proximal

Answer 5

closer to the center of the body or to the point of attachment. For example, the knee is proximal to the toes.

Question 6

Distal

Answer 6

A body part is further away from the center of the body than another part.
For example, the hand is distal to the shoulder.

Question 7

Medial

Answer 7

Toward the middle or center of the body

Question 8

Lateral

Answer 8

Away from the middle of the body or to the side of the body.
For example, the ears are lateral to the nose, meaning they are farther from the middle of the body than the nose.

Question 9

Superficial

Answer 9

Close to the surface of the body or shallow.
It’s a directional term used to describe the position of a body part in relation to other parts.

Question 10

Deep

Answer 10

Something is further away from the surface of the body, or deeper within the body