Anatomical, Directional, and Regional Terms

Question 1

anterior (ventral)

Answer 1

toward the front

Question 2

posterior (dorsal)

Answer 2

toward the back

Question 3

superior

Answer 3

toward the head

Question 4

inferior

Answer 4

away from the head

Question 5

medial

Answer 5

toward the midline of the body

Question 6

lateral

Answer 6

away from the midline of the body

Question 7

proximal

Answer 7

toward the attached end of the limb, origin of the structure, or midline of the body

Question 8

distal

Answer 8

away from the attached end of the limb, origin of the structure, or midline of the body

Question 9

superficial

Answer 9

external; located close to or on the body surface

Question 10

deep

Answer 10

internal; locate further beneath the body surface than the superficial structure

Question 11

cervical

Answer 11

regional term referring to the nect

Question 12

thoracic

Answer 12

regional term referring to the portion of the body between the neck and the abdomen; also known as the chest (thorax)

Question 13

lumbar

Answer 13

regional term referring to the portion of the back between the abdomen and the pelvis

Question 14

plantar

Answer 14

the sole or bottom of the feet

Question 15

dorsal

Answer 15

the top surface of the feet and hands

Question 16

palmar

Answer 16

the anterior or ventral surface of the hands

Question 17

saggital plane

Answer 17

a longitudinal line that divides the body into right and left sections

Question 18

frontal plane

Answer 18

a longitudinal section that divides the body into anterior and posterior parts

Question 19

transverse plane

Answer 19

also known as the horizontal plane; divides the body into superior and inferior sections

Question 20

arthro

Answer 20

joint

Question 21

bi

Answer 21

two

Question 22

brachium

Answer 22

arm

Question 23

cardio

Answer 23

heart

Question 24

cephalo

Answer 24

head

Question 25

chondro

Answer 25

cartilage

Question 26

costo

Answer 26

rib

Question 27

dermo

Answer 27

skin

Question 28

hemo, hemat

Answer 28

blood

Question 29

ilio

Answer 29

ilium (the wide upper part of the pelvic bone)

Question 30

myo

Answer 30

muscle

Question 31

os, osteo

Answer 31

bone

Question 32

pulmo

Answer 32

lung

Question 33

thoraco, thorax

Answer 33

chest

Question 34

tri

Answer 34

three

Question 35

anatomical position

Answer 35

a person standing erect with hand, eyes, and the palms facing forward; the feet are together with the toes pointing forward and the arms are hanging by the sides

Question 36

cardiovascular system

Answer 36

a closed-circuit system composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood

Question 37

respiratory system

Answer 37

a system that provides a means to replace oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the blood

Question 38

digestive system

Answer 38

involves processes including the ingestion of food, movement of food along the digestive tract, mechanical preparation of food for digestion, chemical digestion of food, absorption of digested food into the circulatory and lymphatic systems, and elimination of indigestible substances and waste products from the body by defecation

Question 39

skeletal system

Answer 39

active, living tissue that performs functions such as the support, movement, protection, storage, and formation of blood cells

Question 40

nervous system

Answer 40

a system whose primary purpose is to collect information about conditions in relation to the body's external state, analyze this information, and initialize appropriate responses to fulfill specific needs.

Question 41

flexion

Answer 41

sagittal movement that decreases the angle between two bones

Question 42

extension

Answer 42

sagittal movement that increases the angle between two bones

Question 43

dorsiflexion

Answer 43

sagittal movement; moving the top of the foot toward the shin

Question 44

plantarflexion

Answer 44

sagittal movement; moving the sole of the foot downward (pointing the toes)

Question 45

abduction

Answer 45

frontal movement; motion away from the midline of the body

Question 46

adduction

Answer 46

frontal movement; motion toward the midline of the body

Question 47

elevation

Answer 47

frontal movement; moving to a superior position (only at the scapula AKA shrug)

Question 48

depression

Answer 48

frontal movement; moving to an inferior position (only at the scapula AKA shrug)

Question 49

inversion

Answer 49

frontal movement; lifting the medial border of the foot

Question 50

eversion

Answer 50

frontal movement; lifting the lateral border of the foot

Question 51

rotation

Answer 51

transverse movement; internal or external turning about the vertical axis of bone

Question 52

pronation

Answer 52

transverse movement; rotating the hand and wrist medially from the elbow

Question 53

supination

Answer 53

transverse movement; rotating the hand and wrist laterally from the elbow

Question 54

horizontal flexion

Answer 54

transverse movement; adduction of the femur

Question 55

horizontal extension

Answer 55

transverse movement; abduction of the femur

Question 56

circumduction

Answer 56

multiplanar movement; combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction in sequence (throwing)

Question 57

opposition

Answer 57

multiplanar movement; thumb movement unique to humans and primates

Question 58

types of sagittal movement

Answer 58

flexion, extension, dorsiflexion, plantarflexion

Question 59

types of frontal movement

Answer 59

abduction, adduction, elevation, depression, inversion, eversion

Question 60

types of transverse movement

Answer 60

rotation, pronation, supination, horizontal flexion, horizontal extension

Question 61

types of multiplanar movement

Answer 61

circumduction, opposition