Planes & Directions

Question 1

Anatomical position

Answer 1

• body erect
• palms out
• arms forward
• face forward

Question 2

Sagittal

Answer 2

aka Lateral
- divided into left and right
- like how you would cut apple

Question 3

Coronal

Answer 3

aka Frontal
- divided into front and back
- like how bread is sliced

Question 4

Transverse

Answer 4

aka Horizontal
- divided into upper and lower
- like layers of hamburger

Question 5

Superior (cranial)

Answer 5

from a high position
ex. brain is superior to heart

Question 6

Inferior (caudal)

Answer 6

from a low position
ex. heart is inferior to brain

Question 7

Anterior (ventral)

Answer 7

toward the stomach
ex. sternum is anterior to heart

Question 8

Posterior (dorsal)

Answer 8

toward the back
ex. the spine is posterior to stomach

Question 9

Medial

Answer 9

toward the body midline
ex. heart is medial to the ribs

Question 10

Lateral

Answer 10

away from the body midline
ex. ribs are lateral to heart

Question 11

Proximal

Answer 11

point nearest limb’s attachments
ex. shoulder is proximal to elbow

Question 12

Distal

Answer 12

point farthest from limbs attachment
ex. ankle is distal to knee

Question 13

Peripheral

Answer 13

toward the outer surface
ex. the cell wall is peripheral

Question 14

Central

Answer 14

toward the center
ex. the cell nucleus is central

Question 15

Ipsilateral

Answer 15

same side

Question 16

Contralateral

Answer 16

opposite side

Question 17

Adduct

Answer 17

bring structures together

Question 18

Abduct

Answer 18

move structures apart

Question 19

Flexion

Answer 19

to bend a joint

Question 20

Extension

Answer 20

to straighten a joint

Question 21

supine

Answer 21

lying with ventral surface up
(laying on back)

Question 22

pronate

Answer 22

lying with ventral surface down
(laying on stomach)

Question 23

Anatomical approach

Answer 23

based on gross anatomy of nervous system (CNS and PNS)

Question 24

Functional approach

Answer 24

based on function of nervous system
(voluntary and involuntary)

Question 25

Developmental approach

Answer 25

based on development of nervous system and neurodevelopment terms