Directional terms (used for anatomy)

Question 1

Medial

Answer 1

Nearer to the mid-line e.g. the heart is medial to the humerus
-opposite of lateral

Question 2

Lateral

Answer 2

Further from the mid-line or at the side of the body e.g. the humerus is lateral to the heart
-opposite of medial

Question 3

Proximal

Answer 3

Nearer to a point of attachment of a limb or origin of a body part e.g. the femur is proximal to the fibula
-opposite to distal

Question 4

Distal

Answer 4

Further from a point of attachment of a limb or origin of a body part e.g. the fibula is distal to the fibula
-opposite to proximal

Question 5

Anterior/Ventral

Answer 5

Nearer the front of the body e.g. the sternum is anterior to the vertebrae
-opposite to posterior/dorsal

Question 6

Posterior/Dorsal

Answer 6

Nearer the back of the body e.g. the vertebrae are posterior to the sternum
-opposite to the anterior/ventral

Question 7

Superior

Answer 7

Nearer the head e.g. the skull is superior to the scapulae

-opposite to inferior

Question 8

Inferior

Answer 8

Further from the head e.g. the scapulae are inferior to the skull
-opposite to the superior

Question 9

Median plane

Answer 9

When the body is divided longitudinally through midline into right and left halves

Question 10

Sagittal section

Answer 10

Any section made parallel to the median plane (still divided laterally into left and right)

Question 11

Frontal/Coronal plane

Answer 11

Divides the body longitudinally into its anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections

Question 12

Transverse plane

Answer 12

A transverse or horizontal section provides a cross-section dividing the body or body part into upper and lower parts (top and bottom)