Directional Terms

Question 1

abduction

Answer 1

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

Question 2

adduction

Answer 2

movement toward the midsagittal (median) plane of the body

Question 3

medial

Answer 3

pertaining to the midline of the body or structure

Question 4

lateral

Answer 4

pertaining to a side

Question 5

superior (cephalad)

Answer 5

toward the head or upper portion of a structure

Question 6

inferior (caudal)

Answer 6

away from the head or toward the tail or lower part of a structure

Question 7

proximal

Answer 7

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

Question 8

distal

Answer 8

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

Question 9

anterior(ventral)

Answer 9

front of the body

Question 10

posterior(dorsal)

Answer 10

back of the body

Question 11

parietal

Answer 11

pertaining to the outer wall of the body cavity

Question 12

visceral

Answer 12

pertaining to the viscera or internal organs especially the abdominal organs

Question 13

prone

Answer 13

lying on the abdomen, face down

Question 14

supine

Answer 14

lying horizontally on the back, face up

Question 15

inversion

Answer 15

turning inward or inside out

Question 16

eversion

Answer 16

turning outward

Question 17

palmar

Answer 17

pertaining to palm of hand

Question 18

plantar

Answer 18

pertaining to sole of foot

Question 19

superficial

Answer 19

toward the surface of the body (external)

Question 20

deep

Answer 20

away from the surface of the body (internal)