Directional Terms

Question 1

Movement away from the midsagittal (median) plane of the body or one of its parts

Answer 1

Abduction

Question 2

Movement toward the midsagittal (median) plane of the body

Answer 2

Adduction

Question 3

Pertaining to the middle of the body or structure

Answer 3

Medial

Question 4

Pertaining to a side

Answer 4

Lateral

Question 5

Toward the head or upper portion of a structure

Answer 5

Superior (cephalad)

Question 6

Away from the head, or toward the tail or lower part of structure

Answer 6

Inferior (caudal)

Question 7

Nearer to the center (trunk of the body) or to the point of attachment to the body

Answer 7

Proximal

Question 8

Further from the center (trunk of the body) or from the point of attachment to the body

Answer 8

Distal

Question 9

Front of the body

Answer 9

Anterior (ventral)

Question 10

Back of the body

Answer 10

Posterior (dorsal)

Question 11

Pertaining to the outer wall of the body cavity

Answer 11

Parietal

Question 12

Pertaining to the viscera, or internal organs, especially the abdominal organs

Answer 12

Visceral

Question 13

Lying on the abdomen, face down

Answer 13

Prone

Question 14

Lying horizontally on the back, face up

Answer 14

Supine

Question 15

Turning inward or inside out

Answer 15

Inversion

Question 16

Turning outward

Answer 16

Eversion

Question 17

Pertaining to the palm of the hand

Answer 17

Palmer

Question 18

Pertaining to the sole of the foot

Answer 18

Plantar

Question 19

Toward the surface of the body (external)

Answer 19

Superficial

Question 20

Away form the surface of the body (internal)

Answer 20

Deep

Question 21

Test

Answer 21

Test