Planes and Positions

Question 1

supine position

Answer 1

if the body is lying face up

Question 2

prone position

Answer 2

if the body is lying face down

Question 3

Anterior view

Answer 3

at or near the front of the body

Question 4

posterior view

Answer 4

at or near the back of the body

Question 5

midline

Answer 5

the imaginary line that divides the body into right and left halves

Question 6

medial

Answer 6

nearer to midline

Question 7

lateral

Answer 7

away from midline

Question 8

superior view

Answer 8

situated toward the head and further away from the feet; the upper part of the structure

Question 9

inferior view

Answer 9

situated nearer to the feet than the head; the lower part of the structure

Question 10

deep

Answer 10

away from the surface of the body

Question 11

superficial

Answer 11

close to the surface of the body

Question 12

distal

Answer 12

farther from the origin of a structure

Question 13

proximal

Answer 13

nearer to the origin of a structure

Question 14

frontal (coronal) plane

Answer 14

divides the body into front and back portions

Question 15

tranverse (horizontal) plane

Answer 15

divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions

Question 16

oblique plane

Answer 16

passes through a structure or the entire body at an angle

Question 17

sagittal plane

Answer 17

divides a structure or the body vertically into right or left portions

Question 18

midsagittal

Answer 18

divides the body vertically into equal right and left sides

Question 19

parasagittal

Answer 19

divides the body vertically into unequal right and left sides

Question 20

Anatomical position

Answer 20

Upright, facing forward, feet flat directed forward with arms at sides with palms facing forward