Positional/Directional Terms

Question 0

Posterior (dorsal)

Answer 0

The back side of the body. Ex: the back of the head is posterior to the face

Question 1

Anterior(ventral)

Answer 1

Front side of body. Ex: the forehead is on the anterior side of the body

Question 2

Deep

Answer 2

Away from the surface

Question 3

Superficial

Answer 3

On the surface

Question 4

Proximal

Answer 4

Near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure. Ex: the proximal end of the thigh bone joins with the hip socket

Question 5

Distal

Answer 5

Far from point of attachment to the trunk or far from the beginning of a structure

Question 6

Inferior

Answer 6

Below another structure

Question 7

Superior

Answer 7

Above another structure

Question 8

Medial

Answer 8

Pertaining to the middle or nearer the medial plane of the body.

Question 9

Lateral

Answer 9

Pertaining to the side

Question 10

Supine

Answer 10

Lying on back; face up

Question 11

Prone

Answer 11

Lying on belly, face down.

Question 12

Frontal (coronal) plane

Answer 12

Cuts body into anterior and posterior

Question 13

Sagittal plane (lateral)

Answer 13

Cuts body into right and left

Question 14

Transverse (axial)

Answer 14

Cuts body into top and bottom