View Orientation and Anatomical Planes

Question 1

Anterior

Answer 1

Toward the front of the body

Question 2

Distal

Answer 2

Toward the end of an extremity

Question 3

Dorsal

Answer 3

Toward the back of the body in the trunk, but superiorly in the head. The difference is due to the fact that the dorsum is defined relative to the axis of the nervous system, which bends at the midbrain in humans

Question 4

Dorsal surface (of foot or hand)

Answer 4

The top of the foot or back of the hand

Question 5

Frontal (coronal) plane

Answer 5

The anatomical plane that divides the body into front and back parts

Question 6

Inferior

Answer 6

Toward the feet or downward

Question 7

Lateral

Answer 7

Toward the side of the body

Question 8

Medial

Answer 8

Toward the midline of the body

Question 9

Palmar surface

Answer 9

The anterior surface (palm) of the hand

Question 10

Plantar surface

Answer 10

The inferior surface (sole) of the foot

Question 11

Posterior

Answer 11

Toward the back of the body

Question 12

Proximal

Answer 12

Toward the attachment of a limb to the trunk, or toward the beginning of a tubular structure

Question 13

Sagittal plane

Answer 13

A family of planes that divide the body into left and right parts. One of the planes is in the midline (mid-sagittal or median) and divides the body into two equal halves. The remaining members of the family (para-sagittal or para-median) divide the body into unequal left and right halves

Question 14

Mid-sagittal or Median (Sagittal plane)

Answer 14

The plane that divides the body into two equal parts

Question 15

Para-sagittal or Para-Median (Sagittal plane)

Answer 15

One of a family of planes parallel to the midline

Question 16

Superior

Answer 16

Toward the upper end of the body

Question 17

Transverse (axial) plane

Answer 17

The family of planes that divide the body into upper and lower parts

Question 18

Anatomical view orientation

Answer 18

This is the standard position used for the description of body parts: the head is erect and the palms face forward. Based on this position, specific terms describe the orientation of the body and its parts

Question 19

Anatomical planes

Answer 19

Three families of planes at right angles to each other are used to divide the body: frontal (coronal), transverse (axial or horizontal), and sagittal (para-sagittal, or para-median; mid-sagittal or median)