Directional Terms & Planes

Question 1

Anatomical position

Answer 1

Standard stance of the body

• Body is erect
• Arms at sides
• Palms facing forward
• Feet together
• Head is level
• Eyes facing directly forward

Question 2

Supine

Answer 2

The stance of a person lying down in the anatomical position (face up)

Question 3

Prone

Answer 3

The stance of a person lying down facing down

Question 4

Bilateral symmetry

Answer 4

A basic body plan in which the body is divided into equal right and left halves superficially along the midline

Question 5

Anterior / Ventral

Answer 5

Front or belly side

Question 6

Posterior / Dorsal

Answer 6

Back side

Question 7

Superior

Answer 7

Above; toward the head

Question 8

Inferior

Answer 8

Below; toward the feet

Question 9

Medial

Answer 9

Toward the middle of the body or midsagittal plane

Question 10

Lateral

Answer 10

Toward the outside of the body or away from the midsagittal plane

Question 11

Proximal

Answer 11

Towards the point of connection or trunk

Question 12

Distal

Answer 12

Away from point of connection or trunk

Question 13

Superficial

Answer 13

Close to the body surface

Question 14

Deep

Answer 14

Farther from body surface

Question 15

Contralateral

Answer 15

On opposite sides of the body

Question 16

Ipsilateral

Answer 16

On the same side of the body

Question 17

Sectional anatomy

Answer 17

Imaginary flat surfaces that are used to divide the body

Question 18

Sagittal / Midsagittal plane

Answer 18

A plane dividing the body into left and right halves evenly

Question 19

Parasagittal plane

Answer 19

A plane dividing the body into left and right sections unevenly

Question 20

Frontal / Coronal plane

Answer 20

A plane dividing the body into front and back halves

Question 21

Transverse plane

Answer 21

A plane dividing the body into upper and lower halves

Question 22

Oblique plane

Answer 22

A plane dividing the body at an odd angle