Terms Of Direction

Question 1

Medial

Answer 1

• nearer to the midline of the body

Question 2

Lateral

Answer 2

• further away from the body’s midline

Question 3

Proximal

Answer 3

• refers to structure closer to the center of the body

- hip is proximal to knee

Question 4

Distal

Answer 4

• refers to structures further away from the center of the body
• the knee is distal to hip

Question 5

Anterior

Answer 5

• the front

Question 6

Posterior

Answer 6

• refers to behind

Question 7

Cephalad or cephalic

Answer 7

Head

Question 8

Cranial

Answer 8

Skull

Question 9

Caudad

Answer 9

• towards the tail or posterior

- caudal means “hindquarters”

Question 10

Superior

Answer 10

• above

Question 11

Inferior

Answer 11

• below

Question 12

The transverse plane

Answer 12

• upper and lower halves

- superior and inferior

Question 13

Sagittal plane

Answer 13

• divide vertically into left or right

- runs parallel down midline

Question 14

Frontal or coronal plane

Answer 14

• divides into front or back

- anterior or posterior