Directional Terms Quiz

dorsal

moving towards the tope of the brain; a dorsal view looks down on top of the brain

Ventral

Moving towards the bottom of the brain; a ventral view looks at the bottom of the brain

medial

moving towards the midline of the brain; a medial view looks at the midline

rostral

moving towards the front of the brain; a structure rostral to another is in front of it

caudal

moving towards the back of the brain; a structure caudal to another is behind it

superior

above; a structure superior to another is above it

inferior

below; a structure superior to another is below it

lateral

moving away from the midline of the brain; a lateral view looks at the side of a brain

anterior

synonymous with rostral

posterior

synonymous with caudal

quadrupeds vs bipeds

quadrupedes (4 legs) are described with terms ending in -al and animals that are bipeds (2 legs) are described with terms ending in -ior

sagittal

plane of section cut down the midline, between the cerebral hemispheres. This section is perpendicular to the ground

parasagittals

planes of section cut parallel to a sagittal cut but off the midline

horizontals

planes of section cut rostrally to caudally, parallel to the ground

coronals

planes of section cut dorsally to ventrally, perpendicular to both ground and a sagittal cut

CNS

central nervous system, includes the brain and spinal cord

PNS

peripheral nervous system - includes all neural structures outside of brain and spinal cord

neuron

functional unit/cell of nervous system

nucleus

collection of neurons with common function and location in the CNS

ganglion

collection of neurons with common function and location in the PNS

axon

any fiber extension of a neuron providing communication from one cell to another

fasciculus

a small collection of axons in the CNS

Tract

a medium-sized collection of axons in the CNS

peduncle

a large collection of axons in the CNS

commissure

any collection of axons in the CNS that crosses the midline and connects symmetrical brain structures from each hemispherene

nerve

any collection of axons in the PNS