Unit 3 - Directional Terms, Anatomic Planes and Quadrants

Question 1

midsagittal plane

Answer 1

midline; divides the body into equal left and right halves

Question 2

sagittal plane

Answer 2

divides the body into unequal left and right halves

Question 3

coronal plane

Answer 3

divides the body into front and back portions (coron/o = head or crown + -al = pertaining to)

Question 4

transverse plane

Answer 4

sometimes referred to as the horizontal plane; divides body into upper and lower portions

Question 5

deep

Answer 5

situated far below the surface

Question 6

superficial

Answer 6

situated near the surface (ex. veins)

Question 7

ventr/o, anter/o

Answer 7

front or before (-ior pertaining to for anter/o, -al pertaining to for ventr/o)

Question 8

-ior

Answer 8

pertaining to

Question 9

dors/o

Answer 9

back side (-al pertaining to)

Question 10

poster/o

Answer 10

back or after (-ior pertaining to)

Question 11

superior

Answer 11

uppermost, above, or toward the head (method- Lake Superior is northernmost lake)

Question 12

cephal/o

Answer 12

head

Question 13

-ic

Answer 13

pertaining to

Question 14

caud/o

Answer 14

tail or lower part of the body

Question 15

proximal

Answer 15

nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure

Question 16

distal

Answer 16

farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure

Question 17

medial

Answer 17

the direction toward or nearer the midline or middle

Question 18

lateral

Answer 18

the direction toward the side, away from the midline

Question 19

bilateral

Answer 19

two; pertaining to two sides

Question 20

unilateral

Answer 20

one; pertaining to one side