Anatomical Directions

Question 1

What does superior (cranial) refer to?

Answer 1

Toward the head or upper part of the body (e.g., the heart is superior to the stomach)

Superior indicates a position higher than another structure.

Question 2

What does inferior (caudal) mean?

Answer 2

Toward the lower part of the body (e.g., the stomach is inferior to the heart)

Inferior indicates a position lower than another structure.

Question 3

Define anterior (ventral).

Answer 3

Toward the front of the body (e.g., the sternum is anterior to the spine)

Anterior is used to describe structures located towards the front.

Question 4

What does posterior (dorsal) indicate?

Answer 4

Toward the back of the body (e.g., the spine is posterior to the heart)

Posterior is used to describe structures located towards the back.

Question 5

What does medial refer to?

Answer 5

Toward the midline of the body (e.g., the nose is medial to the ears)

Medial indicates a position closer to the center of the body.

Question 6

Define lateral.

Answer 6

Away from the midline of the body (e.g., the ears are lateral to the nose)

Lateral indicates a position further from the center of the body.

Question 7

What does proximal mean?

Answer 7

Closer to the point of attachment or origin (e.g., the shoulder is proximal to the wrist)

Proximal is used to describe structures that are nearer to the center of the body or point of attachment.

Question 8

Define distal.

Answer 8

Farther from the point of attachment or origin (e.g., the fingers are distal to the elbow)

Distal indicates a position further from the center of the body or point of attachment.

Question 9

What does superficial refer to?

Answer 9

Closer to the surface of the body (e.g., the skin is superficial to the muscles)

Superficial indicates a position nearer to the outer surface.

Question 10

Define deep.

Answer 10

Farther from the surface of the body (e.g., the bones are deep to the skin)

Deep indicates a position further from the outer surface.

Question 11

What is flexion?

Answer 11

Decreasing the angle of a joint (e.g., bending the elbow)

Flexion typically occurs at hinge joints.

Question 12

Define extension.

Answer 12

Increasing the angle of a joint (e.g., straightening the knee)

Extension typically restores a joint to its anatomical position.

Question 13

What does abduction mean?

Answer 13

Moving a limb away from the midline (e.g., raising the arm sideways)

Abduction is a movement that increases the angle between body parts.

Question 14

Define adduction.

Answer 14

Moving a limb toward the midline (e.g., bringing the legs together)

Adduction decreases the angle between body parts.

Question 15

What is pronation?

Answer 15

Rotating the forearm so the palm faces downward

Pronation occurs in the forearm and the foot.

Question 16

Define supination.

Answer 16

Rotating the forearm so the palm faces upward

Supination is the opposite of pronation.

Question 17

What does elevation refer to?

Answer 17

Raising a body part (e.g., shrugging the shoulders)

Elevation typically involves moving a body part superiorly.

Question 18

Define depression.

Answer 18

Lowering a body part (e.g., dropping the shoulders)

Depression typically involves moving a body part inferiorly.

Question 19

What is the sagittal plane?

Answer 19

Divides the body into left and right halves

The sagittal plane is used in anatomical studies to separate body parts.

Question 20

Define the frontal (coronal) plane.

Answer 20

Divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) halves

The frontal plane is useful for understanding anterior and posterior structures.

Question 21

What does the transverse (horizontal) plane do?

Answer 21

Divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) halves

The transverse plane is often used in imaging techniques to view cross-sections.