directional and positional terms

Question 1

Ventral

Answer 1

• refers to the belly or the underside of a body or body part
• includes head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and tail

Question 2

Dorsal

Answer 2

• refers to the back
• includes head, neck, thorax, abdomen, and tail

Question 3

Cranial

Answer 3

• towards the head or pertaining to the head

Question 4

Caudal

Answer 4

towards the tail

Question 5

Anterior

Answer 5

towards the front of the body, referring to the limbs

Question 6

posterior

Answer 6

towards the back of the body, referring to the limbs

Question 7

rostral

Answer 7

pertaining to the nose end of the head

Question 8

midline

Answer 8

aka median or midsagittal
imaginary line that divides the body into EQUAL right and left halves

Question 9

Medial

Answer 9

pertaining to the MIDDLE or towards the midline

Question 10

lateral

Answer 10

pertaining to the SIDE or AWAY from the midline

Question 11

Superior

Answer 11

UPPERMOST; ABOVE

Question 12

Inferior

Answer 12

LOWERMOST; below

Question 13

Adjacent

Answer 13

NEXT TO, close to, or adjoining

Question 14

proximal

Answer 14

closer to the midline of the body, pertaining to another point
near the center of the body relative to another point

Question 15

Distal

Answer 15

Away from the midline of the body
Away from the center of the body relative to another point

Question 16

Oblique

Answer 16

at an angle

Question 17

Superficial/external

Answer 17

near the surface

Question 18

deep/internal

Answer 18

away from the surface

Question 19

peripheral

Answer 19

pertaining to, or situated near the periphery
outermost part, or the surface of an organ or body part

Question 20

Palmar

Answer 20

the bottom of the front foot or hoof (underside)
anything distal to the carpus (in the hind limb only)

Question 21

Prone

Answer 21

position of the animal lying on their ABDOMEN, face down, legs extended
ventral recumbency/sternal recumbency

Question 22

Supine

Answer 22

position of the animal laying on its BACK, legs extended
dorsal recumbency

Question 23

Recumbent

Answer 23

lying down

Question 24

Median Plane

Answer 24

• aka midsagittal plane or midline
• a plane that divides the body into EQUAL right and left halves
• cuts the body longitudinally

Question 25

Sagittal plane

Answer 25

plane Parallel to the midline plane and divides the body into UNEQUAL right and left body parts

Question 26

Frontal Plane

Answer 26

- aka called a dorsal plane - a plane that divides the body into dorsal and ventral parts - not necessarily equal

Question 27

Transverse Plane

Answer 27

- aka a cross-sectional or horizontal plane - a plane that is perpendicular to the median plane and divides the body into cranial and caudal parts - not necessarily equal

Question 28

Longitudinal Plane

Answer 28

- a general term referring to a section cut the length of the body or organ

Question 29

Abduction

Answer 29

to move AWAY from the midline

Question 30

Adduction

Answer 30

to move TOWARDS the midline

Question 31

flexion

Answer 31

to bend a joint or reduce the angle between two bones

Question 32

hyperflexion

Answer 32

flexed too far

Question 33

extension

Answer 33

to STRAIGHTEN a joint or increase the angle between two bone

Question 34

hyperextension

Answer 34

extended too far

Question 35

supination

Answer 35

the act of rotating the limb or body part so that the ventral surface is turned upwards

Question 36

pronation

Answer 36

the act of rotating the limb or body part so that the ventral surface is turned downwards

Question 37

Define: rotation

Answer 37

circular movement around an axis

Question 38

Supine

Answer 38

AKA dorsal recumbency laying on the back (spine on the table)

Question 39

dorsal recumbency

Answer 39

AKA supine laying on the back (spine on the table)

Question 40

Prone

Answer 40

AKA ventral recumbency or sternal recumbency laying on the stomach

Question 41

Ventral recumbency

Answer 41

AKA prone or sternal recumbency laying on the stomach

Question 42

Sternal recumbency

Answer 42

AKA ventral recumbency or prone laying on the stomach

Question 43

Lateral recumbency

Answer 43

laying on the side can be in either right lateral recumbency (right side on the table) or left lateral recumbency (left side on the table)