Directional and Skeletal System Vocab

Question 1

cranial or cephalic

Answer 1

the head end

Question 2

caudal

Answer 2

the tail end

Question 3

ventral

Answer 3

the belly side

Question 4

dorsal

Answer 4

the back side

Question 5

superior

Answer 5

the upper portion, or that which is above

Question 6

inferior

Answer 6

the lower portion, or that which is below

Question 7

supra

Answer 7

descriptive prefix meaning above

Question 8

infra

Answer 8

descriptive prefix meaning below

Question 9

anterior

Answer 9

the forward surface, or toward the front

Question 10

posterior

Answer 10

the rear surface or toward the rear

Question 11

medial

Answer 11

refers to a location nearer the midline than another location

Question 12

lateral

Answer 12

refers to a location farther from the midline than another location

Question 13

proximal

Answer 13

nearer the main axis of the body, or nearer the point of attachment

Question 14

distal

Answer 14

away from the main axis of the body, or away from the point of attachment

Question 15

superficial

Answer 15

at or near the surface

Question 16

deep

Answer 16

away from the surface

Question 17

transverse or horizontal

Answer 17

a plane that extends from left to right and from dorsal to ventral, giving cranial and caudal portions

Question 18

sagittal

Answer 18

a plane that extends from cranial to caudal, giving left and right portions

Question 19

midsagittal

Answer 19

a plane that extends from cranial to caudal passing through the midline to divide the body or an organ into right and left halves

Question 20

frontal or coronal

Answer 20

a plane that extends from left to right and cranial to caudal, giving dorsal and ventral portions

Question 21

alveolus

Answer 21

a deep pit or socket in the maxillae or mandible

Question 22

articulation

Answer 22

the junction of two bones

Question 23

auricular

Answer 23

ear-shaped

Question 24

bifid

Answer 24

cleft into two parts or branches

Question 25

capitulum

Answer 25

a little head

Question 26

concha

Answer 26

a spiral structure like a seashell

Question 27

condyle

Answer 27

a large, smooth, rounded articulating oval structure

Question 28

coracoid

Answer 28

describing a projection shaped like a crows beak

Question 29

coronoid

Answer 29

describing a triangular projection ending in a sharp point

Question 30

costal

Answer 30

associated with or a part of the ribs

Question 31

crest

Answer 31

a narrow, prominent ridge like projection

Question 32

cribiform

Answer 32

perforated like a sieve

Question 33

cuneiform

Answer 33

wedge-shaped

Question 34

demifacet

Answer 34

half of a facet, part of an articular surface shared by two adjacent bones

Question 35

diaphysis

Answer 35

the middle portion of a long bone, the shaft

Question 36

eminence

Answer 36

an elevation or projection, especially on a bone

Question 37

epicondyle

Answer 37

a projection adjacent to a condyle

Question 38

epiphysis

Answer 38

the end of a long bone

Question 39

facet

Answer 39

a small, flat, shallow articulating surface

Question 40

fissure

Answer 40

a narrow, slit-like opening through bone

Question 41

foramen

Answer 41

a rounded passageway through a bone

Question 42

fossa

Answer 42

a flattened or shallow depression

Question 43

fovea

Answer 43

a small pit or depression

Question 44

glenoid

Answer 44

shaped like a shallow socket

Question 45

head

Answer 45

a prominent, rounded epiphysis

Question 46

hiatus

Answer 46

a gap

Question 47

lamina

Answer 47

a thin, flat plate

Question 48

line

Answer 48

a low ridge, less prominent than a crest

Question 49

malleolus

Answer 49

a club shaped or hammer shaped process

Question 50

mastoid

Answer 50

breast shaped

Question 51

meatus

Answer 51

a passageway through bone

Question 52

neck

Answer 52

a constriction portion adjacent to a head

Question 53

notch

Answer 53

an indentation or V-shaped depression

Question 54

nuchal

Answer 54

associated with the nape of the neck

Question 55

pedicle

Answer 55

a supporting column or stalk

Question 56

petrous

Answer 56

like a rock

Question 57

process

Answer 57

a projection; a bony prominence

Question 58

promontory

Answer 58

a high place

Question 59

pterygoid

Answer 59

winglike

Question 60

ramus

Answer 60

an angular extension of a bone relative to the rest of the structure; a branch

Question 61

septum

Answer 61

a partition

Question 62

sinus

Answer 62

a cavity or hollow space in a bone

Question 63

spine

Answer 63

a pointed, slender process

Question 64

squamous

Answer 64

flat, scalelike

Question 65

styloid

Answer 65

pointed, pen-like

Question 66

sulcus

Answer 66

a narrow groove

Question 67

suture

Answer 67

the line of union in an immovable articulation

Question 68

trochanter

Answer 68

a massive, rough projection found only on the femur

Question 69

trochlea

Answer 69

a smooth grooved pulley-like articular process

Question 70

tubercle

Answer 70

a small round projection

Question 71

tuberosity

Answer 71

a large, rough projection

Question 72

xiphoid

Answer 72

shaped like a sword