Directional Terms and Laterality

Question 1

superior

Answer 1

above

Question 2

inferior

Answer 2

below

Question 3

medial

Answer 3

middle (closer to midline)

Question 4

lateral

Answer 4

side (further from the midline)

Question 5

anterior

Answer 5

in front

Question 6

posterior

Answer 6

behind

Question 7

proximal

Answer 7

closer to the origin of that part (often limb)

Question 8

distal

Answer 8

further from the origin of that part (often limb)

Question 9

superfical

Answer 9

closer to the skin

Question 10

deep

Answer 10

further from the skin

Question 11

internal

Answer 11

inside

Question 12

external

Answer 12

outside

Question 13

ventral

Answer 13

closer to the belly surface

Question 14

dorsal

Answer 14

closer to the back surface

Question 15

palmer

Answer 15

opposite surface to the dorsum of the hand ie.- top of hand

Question 16

planter

Answer 16

opposite surface to the dorsum of foot e,g- pointing toes

Question 17

cranial

Answer 17

‘skull’- towards the head

Question 18

caudal

Answer 18

‘tail’- towards the tail

Question 19

rostral

Answer 19

‘beak’- closer to the front

Question 20

occipital

Answer 20

closer to the back

Question 21

bilateral

Answer 21

paired structures on both left and right sides of the body

Question 22

unilateral

Answer 22

unpaired structure on just one side of the body (L/R)

Question 23

ipsilateral

Answer 23

structures on the same side of the body

Question 24

contralateral

Answer 24

structures on the opposite sides of the body

Question 25

body cavities

Answer 25

any space or compartment in an animal body which contains organs and fluids