Practical 1 - Intro. to Anatomy and Physiology Labs (Terms)

Question 1

Superior

Answer 1

Above something else
ex. your forehead is superior to your nose

Question 2

Inferior

Answer 2

Below something else
ex. your chin is inferior to your mouth

Question 3

Anterior

Answer 3

Toward the front
ex. your chest is anterior to your spine

Question 4

Posterior

Answer 4

Toward the back
ex. your tongue is posterior to your teeth

Question 5

Medial

Answer 5

Toward the midline
ex. your belly button is medial to your hips

Question 6

Lateral

Answer 6

Away from the midline
ex. your nostrils are lateral to the tip of your nose

Question 7

Proximal

Answer 7

Closer to the attachment point
ex. for your arm, your elbow is proximal to your wrist

Question 8

Distal

Answer 8

Further away from the attachment point
ex. in your hand, your fingernails are distal to your knuckles

Question 9

Cranial

Answer 9

Toward the head
ex. your neck is cranial to your belly button
- in humans cranial and superior mean the same thing
- in four-legged animals cranial and anterior are often used interchangeably

Question 10

Caudal

Answer 10

Toward the tail or rear
ex. your shoulders are caudal to your head
- in humans caudal and inferior mean the same thing
- in four-legged animals caudal and posterior are often used interchangeably

Question 11

Dorsal

Answer 11

An upper structure
ex. if you are on all fours, your backbone is dorsal to your chest
ex. the top of your foot is dorsal to the bottom of your foot

Question 12

Ventral

Answer 12

A lower structure
ex. if you are on all fours, your chest is ventral to your backbone