Planes and Directions Quiz

anatomical position

stand erect, feet parallel, arms at sides, palms forwards

Superior (cranial/cephalad)

toward the head or upper part of a structure or the body; above

Inferior (caudal)

away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below.

Ventral (anterior)

toward or at the front of the body; in front of.

Dorsal (posterior)

toward or at the backside of the body; behind

Medial

toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of

Lateral

away from the midline of the body: on the outer side of

Proximal

close to the origin of the body part or point of attachment to a limb to the body trunk

Distal

farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Superficial (external)

toward or at the body surface

Deep (internal)

away from the body surface; more internal

A _____ section divides the body (or organ) into left and right parts

sagittal

A ____, or ____, section divides the body (or organ) into equal left and right parts

median, midsagittal

A ____, or ____, section divides the body (or organ) into anterior and posterior parts

frontal, coronal

A _____, or _____, section divides the body (or organ) into superior and inferior parts

transverse, cross

What are the dorsal cavities?

cranial and spinal

What are the ventral cavities?

thoracic, abdominal, pelvic

What does the cranial cavity house?

the brain

What is the cranial cavity protected by?

the skull

What does the spinal cavity house?

the spinal cord

What is the spinal cavity protected by?

the vertebrae

What does the thoracic cavity house?

heart, lungs, and other organs

What is the thoracic cavity protected by?

ribs

What does the abdominal cavity house?

stomach, liver, and other organs

What does the pelvic cavity house?

reproductive organs, bladder, rectum