Directional Terms

Question 1

Medial

Answer 1

toward the midline or away from the side

Question 2

Anterior

Answer 2

Toward the front of the body

Question 3

Posterior

Answer 3

Toward the rear of the body

Question 4

Superior

Answer 4

Toward the top of the body

Question 5

Inferior

Answer 5

Toward the bottom of the body

Question 6

Dorsal

Answer 6

Along the vertebral surface of the body

Question 7

Ventral

Answer 7

Along the belly surface of the body

Question 8

Caudad

Answer 8

Towards the tail

Question 9

Cephalad

Answer 9

Toward the head

Question 10

Proximal

Answer 10

Toward the trunk or point of attachment

Question 11

Distal

Answer 11

Away from the trunk or point of attachment

Question 12

Visceral

Answer 12

Toward an internal organ

Question 13

Parietal

Answer 13

Toward the wall, away from internal structures

Question 14

Deep

Answer 14

Toward an inside part; away from the surface

Question 15

Superficial

Answer 15

Toward the surface of a part; away from the inside

Question 16

Medullary

Answer 16

Refers to an inner region of an organ

Question 17

Sagittarius plane (midsagittal)

Answer 17

Lengthwise plane running from front to back divides right and left sides of the body

Question 18

Coronal (frontal) plane

Answer 18

Lengthwise plane running from side to side; divides body into anterior and posterior

Question 19

Axial skeleton

Answer 19

Skull, vertebral column, and thorax

Question 20

Appendicular skeleton

Answer 20

Upper and lower extremities and pectoral and pelvic girdles

Question 21

Toward the side

Answer 21

Lateral

Question 22

Toward the midline of the body, away from the side

Answer 22

Medial

Question 23

Toward the front of the body

Answer 23

Anterior

Question 24

Toward the rear of the body

Answer 24

Posterior

Question 25

Toward the top of the body

Answer 25

Superior

Question 26

Toward the bottom of the body

Answer 26

Inferior

Question 27

Along the vertebral surface of the body

Answer 27

Ventral

Question 28

Toward the tail

Answer 28

Caudad

Question 29

Toward the head

Answer 29

Cephalad

Question 30

Toward the trunk or point of attachment

Answer 30

Proximal

Question 31

Away from the trunk or point of attachment

Answer 31

Distal

Question 32

Toward an internal organ

Answer 32

Visceral

Question 33

Toward the wall; away from internal

Answer 33

Parietal

Question 34

Toward an inside part; away from the surface

Answer 34

Deep

Question 35

Toward the surface of a part; away from the inside

Answer 35

Superficial

Question 36

Refers to an inner region of an organ

Answer 36

Medullary

Question 37

Refers to an outer region of an organ

Answer 37

Cortical

Question 38

Lengthwise plane running from side to side; divides body into anterior and posterior

Answer 38

Coronal (frontal) plane

Question 39

Skull, vertebral column, and thorax

Answer 39

Axial Skeleton

Question 40

Upper and lower extremities and pectoral and pelvis girdles

Answer 40

Appendicular skeleton

Question 41

Lateral

Answer 41

Toward the side

Question 42

Lateral

Answer 42

Toward the side