This directional terms quiz will test your knowledge on the directional terms in human anatomy, as well as the anatomical position. It’s important to know these directional terms, as they will provide you with a standard reference for anatomical structures. Remember, anatomy builds on itself, so if you learn these terms early, it will help you in your studies of human anatomy.
This quiz will cover directional terms such as superior and inferior, lateral and medial (and intermediate), proximal and distal, anterior and posterior, and superficial and deep.
Don’t forget to watch the anatomical position and directional terms lecture on YouTube, as well as our article on the directional terms for anatomy.
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Directional Terms Quiz for Anatomy and Physiology
1. Which statement is false regarding the anatomical position?
a. The palms face the front.
b. The thumbs point away from the body.
c. The head is turned to the left side.
d. The posture is standing erect.
Answer c is the false statement. The head is looking forward in the anatomical position, not to the side.
2. The nose is superior to the navel.
a. True
b. False
The correct answer is a, true. The nose is superior (above) to the navel.
3. What’s another name for anterior:
a. Dorsal
b. Ventral
c. Cranial
d. Caudal
The answer is b, ventral. Dorsal is another word for posterior.
4. The word anterior means:
a. At or toward the front of the body
b. Away from the insertion point of a structure.
c. At the back or rear of the body.
d. Toward the middle of the body.
The answer is a, toward the front of the body. Remember: Abs (abdominal muscles) are on the anterior side of the body.
5. The wrist is distal to the elbow.
a. True
b. False
The answer is a, true. Distal means farther away from the point of insertion to a body’s structure. Remember: when you hold a pistol, it’s distal to the upper arm.
6. What’s another word for “superior?”
a. Internal
b. Caudal
c. External
d. Cranial
The answer is d, cranial. Remember, the “head” of a company will be the superior authority to his or her employees. Caudal is another word for inferior.
7. The skin is _________ to the skeletal bones.
a. Superior
b. Proximal
c. Superficial
d. Inferior
The answer is c, superficial. Remember, superficial means on or toward the body’s surface. Deep means away from the body’s surface. Although proximal means “near,” that term is referring to an attachment point or origin of a structure such as the limbs.
8. The heart is _______ to the shoulder.
a. Medial
b. Lateral
c. Distal
d. Proximal
The answer is a, medial. Medial means toward the midline (or middle) of the body. The heart is closer to the midline of the body in comparison to the shoulder.
9. The elbow is _________between the wrist and shoulder.
a. Medial
b. Intermediate
c. Distal
d. Lateral
The answer is b, intermediate. Intermediate means that something is between two structures.
10. What is the term for the backside in the anatomical position:
a. Anterior
b. Ventral
c. Caudal
d. Posterior
The answer is d, posterior. Posterior is another word for a person’s backside. The prefix “post” means behind. The anterior is the front (or towards the front) of a person’s body.
11. The radius (forearm bone) is ________ to the humerus (upper arm bone).
a. Intermediate
b. Proximal
c. Distal
d. Anterior
The answer is c, distal. The forearm is further away from the point of insertion (shoulder) than the upper arm bone (humerus).
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