Human Anatomy Positioning Quiz

Study Notes

Body is erect (standing upright)
Head and eyes facing forward
Arms are hanging at sides, slightly away from the trunk, palms facing forward, thumbs pointing away from the body
Legs are parallel, feet flat on the ground, facing forward
Right and left refer to the patient's right and left side, not the observer's.

Medial: Toward the midline (middle) of the body
Lateral: Toward the side of the body
Mnemonic: Medial: Think of the letter "M" for "middle" and "midline". Lateral: Think of your "lats", which are muscles on the side of your back.
Example: The nose is medial to the eyes. The eyes are lateral to the nose.

Superior: Above or toward the head
Inferior: Below or away from the head
Mnemonic: Superior: Think of the letter "S" for "skull" and "superior". Inferior: Think of "floor" and "inferior"
Synonyms: Superior: Cranial (toward the cranium). Inferior: Caudal (toward the tail)
Example: The eyes are superior to the nose. The mouth is inferior to the nose.

Anterior: Front or toward the front of the body
Posterior: Back or toward the back of the body
Mnemonic: Anterior: Comes before "P" in the alphabet (think "front"). Posterior: Comes later in the alphabet (think "back").
Synonyms: Anterior: Ventral (think "ventriloquist," which translates to "stomach talker"). Posterior: Dorsal (think "dorsal fin" on a fish)
Example: The frontal lobe of the brain is anterior to the occipital lobe. The patella (kneecap) is located on the anterior side of the leg.

Proximal: Toward the trunk or near the point of attachment or origin
Distal: Away from the trunk or far from the point of attachment or origin
Mnemonic: Proximal: Think of "proximity," which means near or close. Distal: Think of "distant," which means far away.
Example: The wrist is proximal to the hand. The elbow is distal to the shoulder.

Superficial: Closer to the surface of the body
Deep: Away from the surface of the body
Mnemonic: Superficial: Think of "surface".
Example: The skin is superficial to the ribs. The lungs are deep to the ribs.

Unilateral: Involving one side of the body
Bilateral: Involving both sides of the body
Ipsilateral: On the same side of the body
Contralateral: On opposite sides of the body
Mnemonic: Uni = one, Bi = two, Ipsy = same, Contra = opposite
Example: A rash on only the right arm would be unilateral. A rash on both arms would be bilateral. A laceration and an abrasion on the right arm would be ipsilateral. A laceration on the right arm and an abrasion on the left arm would be contralateral.