Positional/directional terms

Question 1

ventral // anterior

Answer 1

pertaining to the front // front side of the body

Question 2

inferior

Answer 2

below another structure

Question 3

superior

Answer 3

above another structure

Question 4

proximal

Answer 4

near point of attachment to trunk or near the beginning of a structure

Question 5

distal

Answer 5

far from the point of attachment or far from the beginning of a structure

Question 6

supine

Answer 6

lying on the back – s-UP-ine [think, stomach UP]

Question 7

prone

Answer 7

lying on the belly – pr-ON-e [think, ON the stomach]

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

dorsal // posterior

Answer 10

pertaining to the back // back side of the body

Question 11

deep

Answer 11

away from the surface

Question 12

superficial

Answer 12

on the surface

Question 13

frontal plane

Answer 13

“coronal plane” divides body in to anterior and posterior sections

Question 14

transverse plane

Answer 14

“axial plane”

cross-sectional; runs horizontally through body

Question 15

sagittal plane

Answer 15

“lateral plane”

divides body in to right and left sections