General Anatomy

Question 1

axial plane

Answer 1

A horizontal plane; divides the body or any of its parts into upper and lower parts.

Question 2

coronal plane

Answer 2

A vertical plane running from side to side; divides the body or any of its parts into anterior and posterior portions.

Question 3

sagittal plane

Answer 3

A vertical plane running from front to back; divides the body or any of its parts into right and left sides.

Question 4

anterior

Answer 4

a.k.a. “ventral”

Closer to the front of the body.

ex. the sternum is anterior to the heart

Question 5

posterior

Answer 5

a.k.a. “dorsal”

Closer to the back of the body.

ex. the shoulder blades are posterior to the ribs

Question 6

superior

Answer 6

a.k.a. “cranial”

Closer to the head; upper.

ex. the liver is superior to the gallbladder

Question 7

inferior

Answer 7

a.k.a. “caudal”

Closer to the feet; lower.

ex. the intestines are inferior to the stomach

Question 8

medial

Answer 8

Towards the midline of the body.

ex. the vertebrae are located medially to the ribs

Question 9

lateral

Answer 9

Away from the midline of the body.

ex. the lungs are located laterally to the trachea

Question 10

proximal

Answer 10

Towards or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part.

ex. the proximal end of the femur joins the pelvis

Question 11

distal

Answer 11

Away from or furthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part.

ex. the more distal the vessel, the smaller the diameter

Question 12

thoracic cavity

Answer 12

Contains the heart, lungs, trachea, esophagus, and large blood vessels. It is bound laterally by the ribs (covered by costal pleura) and the diaphragm, caudally (covered by diaphragmatic pleura).

Question 13

abdominal cavity

Answer 13

Contains most of the gastrointestinal tract as well as the liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands, and urogenital system. It is bound cranially by the diaphragm, laterally by the body wall, and caudally by the pelvis.

(In UCLA Radiology, the “abdominopelvic cavity” is generally referred to as the “abdominal cavity”)

Question 14

plane exceptions for feet

Answer 14

The planes of the foot are oriented with respect to the body as a whole, not with respect to the shape of the foot.

Question 15

AP

Answer 15

Anterior-Posterior

Used to describe the relative direction of measurement for objects measured in 3D (ex. aneurysm, tumors).

Question 16

TR

Answer 16

Transverse

Used to describe the relative direction of measurement for objects measured in 3D (ex. aneurysm, tumors).

Question 17

CC

Answer 17

Cranio-Caudal

Used to describe the relative direction of measurement for objects measured in 3D (ex. aneurysm, tumors).