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Questions and Answers
What is the term used to describe the location of a body part that is closer to the surface of the body?
Superficial
What is the direction of a body part that is toward the head end of the body?
Superior or cranial
What is the body plane that divides the body or any of its parts into right and left sides?
Sagittal Plane (Lateral Plane)
What is the term used to describe a body part that is away from the midline of the body?
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What is the direction of a body part that is away from the trunk or the point of origin of a part?
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What is the body plane that divides the body or any of its parts into upper and lower parts?
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Study Notes
Directional Terms
- Superior or cranial: towards the head end of the body; upper (e.g., the hand is part of the superior extremity)
- Inferior or caudal: away from the head; lower (e.g., the foot is part of the inferior extremity)
- Anterior or ventral: front (e.g., the kneecap is located on the anterior side of the leg)
- Posterior or dorsal: back (e.g., the shoulder blades are located on the posterior side of the body)
- Medial: towards the midline of the body (e.g., the middle toe is located at the medial side of the foot)
- Lateral: away from the midline of the body (e.g., the little toe is located at the lateral side of the foot)
- Proximal: towards or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part (e.g., the proximal end of the femur joins with the pelvic bone)
- Distal: away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part (e.g., the hand is located at the distal end of the forearm)
Additional Directional Terms
- Superficial: a position closer to the surface of the body (skin surface)
- Deep: a position farther from the surface of the body (way underneath skin)
Body Planes
- Coronal Plane (Frontal Plane): a vertical plane running from side to side; divides the body or any of its parts into anterior and posterior portions
- Sagittal Plane (Lateral Plane): a vertical plane running from front to back; divides the body or any of its parts into right and left sides
- Axial Plane (Transverse Plane): a horizontal plane; divides the body or any of its parts into upper and lower parts
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Description
Test your knowledge of directional terms used in anatomy to describe locations and positions of body parts. Learn the meanings of superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral and how to apply them. Improve your understanding of human anatomy with this quiz.
