Terms For Location And Direction

Question 1

What does ‘Dorsal’ refer to?

Answer 1

Towards the back of the body.

Question 2

What does ‘Ventral’ refer to?

Answer 2

Towards the underside of the body.

Question 3

What does ‘Anterior’ refer to?

Answer 3

Towards the front; i.e the direction in which an animal normally faces.

Question 4

What does ‘Posterior’ refer to?

Answer 4

Towards the rear.

Question 5

What does ‘Medial’ refer to?

Answer 5

Towards the mid-line of the body.

Question 6

What does ‘Lateral’ refer to?

Answer 6

Away from the mid-line of the body.

Question 7

What does ‘Proximal’ refer to?

Answer 7

Towards the point of attachment of a limb.

Question 8

What does ‘Distal’ refer to?

Answer 8

Away from the point of attachment of a limb.

Question 9

What does ‘Cranial’ refer to?

Answer 9

Towards the head.

Question 10

What does ‘Caudal’ refer to?

Answer 10

Towards the tail.

Question 11

What does ‘Palmar’ refer to?

Answer 11

The palm of the hand or sole of the foot.

Question 12

What does ‘Volar’ refer to?

Answer 12

The ‘back’ of the hand or foot.

Question 13

Mesial

Answer 13

Towards the mid-line of the jaws; i.e. where left and right sides meet

Question 14

Distal

Answer 14

Away from the mid-line of the jaws

Question 15

Buccal

Answer 15

Towards the inner surface of the cheeks

Question 16

Lingual

Answer 16

Towards the tongue

Question 17

Occlusal

Answer 17

The ‘chewing surface’ of a tooth