Language of Neuroanatomy Part 1 (Neuroanatomical Terms)

Question 1

Dorsal

Answer 1

Towards the back

Latin for “back”

Question 2

Ventral

Answer 2

Towards the belly

from the Latin “venter” meaning belly

Question 3

Rostral

Answer 3

Towards the nose

Latin for “beak”

Question 4

Caudal

Answer 4

Towards the tail

Latin for “tail”

Question 5

Anterior

Answer 5

Towards front

Question 6

Posterior

Answer 6

Towards the back

Question 7

Lateral

Answer 7

Towards the side

Question 8

Medial

Answer 8

Towards the midline

Question 9

Superior

Answer 9

Dorsal or Rostral

aka above

Question 10

Inferior

Answer 10

Ventral or Caudal

aka under

Question 11

Proximal

Answer 11

closer to structure of interest

Question 12

Axial

Answer 12

towards the central axis

i.e. trunk

Question 13

Distal

Answer 13

further away from structure of interest

Question 14

Appendicular

Answer 14

referring to appendages; away from the central axis

Question 15

Horizontal

Answer 15

parallel to the horizon or the floor

A.K.A. Axial; Transverse; “cross-section”

Question 16

Longitudinal

Answer 16

parallel to the long axis

Question 17

Coronal

Answer 17

Corona or tiara like

a.k.a. Frontal

Question 18

Sagittal

Answer 18

plane of bow and arrow; mnemonic; Sagittarius

Types: Mid-sagittal, Para-sagital

Question 19

Para-

Answer 19

to the side

Question 20

Peri-

Answer 20

around

Question 21

Hypo-

Answer 21

below or less than

Question 22

Hyper-

Answer 22

above or more than

Question 23

Pre-, Pro-, Prosen-

Answer 23

in front of or before

Question 24

Post-

Answer 24

behind or after

Question 25

Mesen-

Answer 25

in-between or mid

Question 26

Rhomben-

Answer 26

rear or in the back

Question 27

Ipsi-

Answer 27

same

Question 28

Contra-

Answer 28

opposite

Question 29

Supra-

Answer 29

above

Question 30

Infra- or Sub-

Answer 30

below

Question 31

Inter-

Answer 31

between; among

Question 32

Intra-

Answer 32

within

Question 33

Somatic

Answer 33

referring to the soma or body; specifically, muscles and skin

Question 34

Visceral

Answer 34

referring to the viscera, specifically, the organs of the body

Question 35

Nucleus

Answer 35

A collection of nerve cell bodies in the CNS

Question 36

Ganglion

Answer 36

A collection of nerve cell bodies in the PNS

Question 37

Afferent

Answer 37

pathways carrying signals TOWARDS a structure,

“Afferent Arrive”

Question 38

Efferent

Answer 38

pathways carrying signals AWAY from a structure

“Efferents Exit”

Question 39

Commissure

Answer 39

A white matter pathway that connects identical structures on the right and left sides of the CNS

Question 40

CNS white matter tracts

Answer 40

• Tract
• Fascicle
• Lemniscus
• Peduncle
• Bundle

(Different name but all the same thing)

Question 41

Chiasm

Answer 41

“cross”

Question 42

Decussation

Answer 42

“cross”

Question 43

CNS

Answer 43

brain, spinal cord, and tracts

Question 44

PNS

Answer 44

nerves and ganglia

Question 45

Telencephalon

Answer 45

Greek for “end brain”

Cerebral hemisphere and Basal Forebrain
inc. cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and limbic structure

Question 46

Diencephalon

Answer 46

Greek for for “in-between brain”

Thalamus & Hypothalamus

Question 47

Mesencephalon

Answer 47

Greek for “middle brain”

part of the Brain Stem

Question 48

Rhombencephalon

Answer 48

Greek for “hind brain”

Pons, Cerebellum, Medulla

Question 49

Thalamus

Answer 49

Greek for “inner chamber” or “bedroom”

Question 50

Hypothalamus

Answer 50

“below” the thalamus

Question 51

Brainstem

Answer 51

a.k.a. “bulb”

the midbrain, pons, medulla