Anatomical Terms and Positions Quiz

Anatomical Terms

• Anterior = In front of
• Posterior = Behind = Nearer to the back of the body
• Superior (upper or cranial) = Nearer to the upper end of the body
• Inferior (lower or caudal) = Nearer to the lower end of the body
• Median = exactly in the middle line
• Medial = nearer to the median plane
• Lateral = away from the median plane
• Proximal = nearer to the root of the limb
• Distal = away from the root of the limb
• Superficial = towards the skin or the surface of the body
• Deep = further away from the skin or the surface of the body

Anatomical Position

• Standing erect
• Eyes looking forwards
• Arms straight by the sides
• Palms facing forwards
• Thumb directed laterally

Anatomical Planes

• Median (sagittal) plane
  • Vertical plane which passes in the middle line of the body
  • Divides the body into 2 equal half right and left parts
• Paramedian plane
  • Parallel to the median plane
  • Divides the body into right and left parts
• Horizontal (transverse) plane
  • Runs horizontally cutting the body into superior & inferior parts

The Skeleton

• Formed of 206 bones

Classification of the Skeleton

• According to position in the body:
  • Axial skeleton
    • Bones in the midline of the body
    • Includes the Skull, ribs, sternum, vertebral column and hyoid bone
  • Appendicular skeleton
    • Bones of the limbs & their girdles
    • Includes the free upper limb, shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle and free lower limb
• According to the process of ossification:
  • Intra-membranous ossification
    • Occurs in some bones like: clavicle, skull cap and mandible
    • Bones are developed directly from mesenchyme
  • Intra-cartilaginous ossification
    • Occurs in long bones, vertebrae, ribs and base of skull
    • Mesenchyme is changed at first into a cartilage model then into bone
• According to Shape:
  • Long Bones
    • Have 2 ends and shaft
    • Examples: Femur, humerus, metacarpals, metatarsals and phalanges
  • Short Bones
    • Examples: Carpal and tarsal bones
  • Flat Bones
    • Examples: Bones of the skull cap, sternum, scapula
  • Irregular Bones
    • Examples: Vertebrae and hip bone
  • Pneumatic Bones
    • Air filled spaces inside some bones
    • Examples: Frontal and maxilla bones
    • Make skull lighter & add resonance to voice
  • Sesamoid Bones
    • Develop inside the tendon of some muscles
    • Examples: Patella

Axial Skeleton

• Skull
  • Skeleton of the cranium and face
  • Consists of 21 immovable bones joined at sutures
• Mandible
  • Skeleton of the lower jaw
  • Is the only movable bone in the head
• Ribs
  • 12 pairs
• Sternum
• Vertebral Column
  • Formed of 33 vertebrae
  • Cervical vertebrae: 7
  • Thoracic vertebrae: 12
  • Lumbar vertebrae: 5
  • Sacral vertebrae: 5, fused to form sacrum
  • Coccygeal vertebrae: 2-4, fused to form coccyx

Appendicular Skeleton

• Shoulder girdle
  • Formed of scapula & clavicle
• Free upper limb
  • Humerus (arm bone)
  • Radius and ulna (forearm bones)
  • Carpal, metacarpal & phalanges (wrist bones)
• Pelvic girdle
  • Hip bone
• Free lower limb
  • Femur (thigh bone)
  • Tibia (medially) and Fibula (laterally) (leg bones)
  • Tarsus, metatarsus & phalanges (foot bones)

Structure of Long Bone

• Epiphysis
  • Covered by hyaline cartilage
• Diaphysis
  • Compact bone containing bone marrow
  • Covered by fibrous sheath (periosteum)
  • Epiphyseal plate of cartilage for length
• Metaphysis
  • Lies in the upper and lower part of the diaphysis

Growth of Long Bone

• In length
  • Epiphyseal plate of cartilage
• In diameter
  • Periosteum

Test your understanding of key anatomical terms and the standard anatomical position. This quiz covers definitions and details of various anatomical planes, positions, and terms essential for studying human anatomy. See how well you know these foundational concepts!