anatomical directions

Question 1

Anterior

Answer 1

The front; before

An example would be the navel on the anterior of a trunk.

Question 2

Ventral

Answer 2

The belly side (equivalent to anterior when referring to the human body)

Question 3

Posterior

Answer 3

The back; behind. The shoulder blade is located posterior to the rib cage

Question 4

Dorsal

Answer 4

The back; behind (equivalent to posterior when referring to the human body)

Question 5

Cranial or Cephalic

Answer 5

The head

Question 6

Superior

Answer 6

Above; at a higher level (in the human body, towards the head)

Example: The nose is superior to the chin

Question 7

Caudal

Answer 7

The tail (coccynx in humans)

Example: The hips are causal to the waist

Question 8

Medial

Answer 8

Toward the body’s longitudinal axis
Example: The medial surfaces of the thighs may be in contact; moving medially from the arm across the chest surface brings you to the sternum.

Question 9

Lateral

Answer 9

Away from the body’s longitudinal axis

Example: The thigh articulates with the lateral surface of the pelvis; moving laterally from the nose brings you to the eyes.

Question 10

Proximal

Answer 10

Towards an attached base

Example: The thigh proximal to the foot; moving proximally from the wrist brings you to the elbow.

Question 11

Distal

Answer 11

Away from an attached base

Example: The fingers are distal to the wrist; moving distally from the elbow brings you to the wrist.

Question 12

Superficial

Answer 12

At, near, or relatively close to the body surface

Example: The scalp is superficial to the skull

Question 13

Deep

Answer 13

Farther from the body surface

Example: The bone of the thigh is deep to the surrounding skeletal muscles