Anatomical Terms

Question 1

What does superficial mean? Give an example.

Answer 1

Structures being closer to the surface of the body than another. Your skin is superficial to the muscles. Your veins are superficial.

Question 2

What does deep mean? Give an example.

Answer 2

Structures internal or further from another surface than another. Hypothermia leads to vasoconstriction and the veins become more deeply positioned.

Question 3

What does superior mean? Give an example.

Answer 3

Superior explains a structure closer to your head or higher than another structure in the body. Your cranium is superior to your mandible.

Question 4

What does inferior mean? Give an example.

Answer 4

Inferior explains a structure closer to your feet or lower than another structure in your body. Your patella is inferior to your pelvis.

Question 5

What does anterior mean? Give an example.

Answer 5

Anterior refers to structures closer to the front or in front of another structure in the body. Your tibia is anterior to your fibula.

Question 6

What does posterior mean? Give an example.

Answer 6

Posterior refers to structures closer to the back or behind another structure in the body. Your scapula is posterior to your sternum.

Question 7

What does medial mean? Give an example.

Answer 7

Medial is situated closer to the midline of the body. Your sternum is medial to your ribs.

Question 8

What does lateral mean? Give an example.

Answer 8

Lateral is situated further away from the midline of the body. Your clavicles are lateral to your mandible.

Question 9

What does proximal mean? Give an example.

Answer 9

Proximal refers to a body part closer to it’s attachment point or closer to the axial skeleton. The elbow is proximal to the wrist.

Question 10

What does distal mean? Give an example.

Answer 10

Distal refers to a body part further away from the point of attachment than another. The knee is distal to the hip.

Question 11

What does palmar mean? Give an example.

Answer 11

Palmar is the palm side of your hand. An example is when you do a push up, the palmar side is in contact with the ground.

Question 12

What does plantar mean? Give an example.

Answer 12

Plantar is the sole side of your foot. When you walk or run, the plantar surface is the one making contact with the ground.