Anatomical Terms Of Relationship And Comparison

1. Superior (cranial) is a directional term used in anatomy to describe a position that is...

Closer to the head.
(The lungs are superior to the stomach.)

Lateral to the body.

Farther from the torso.

Below the waist.

In anatomical terms, 'superior' refers to a position that is located above or closer to the head, while terms like 'inferior' refer to a position below or farther from the head. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Closer to the head.'

Explanation

In anatomical terms, 'superior' refers to a position that is located above or closer to the head, while terms like 'inferior' refer to a position below or farther from the head. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Closer to the head.'

2. Inferior (caudal)

Closer to the head

Within the torso

Closer to the feet.
( The liver is inferior to the hear)

Towards the back

In anatomical terms, inferior or caudal refers to a position closer to the feet or tail in comparison to another structure. For example, the liver is inferior to the heart as it is positioned below the heart.

Explanation

In anatomical terms, inferior or caudal refers to a position closer to the feet or tail in comparison to another structure. For example, the liver is inferior to the heart as it is positioned below the heart.

3. Anterior (ventral)

Closer to the back

Closer to the bottom

Closer to the top

Closer to the front.
( The trachea is anterior to the esophagus)

In anatomical terms, 'anterior' or 'ventral' refers to a position that is closer to the front of the body.

Explanation

In anatomical terms, 'anterior' or 'ventral' refers to a position that is closer to the front of the body.

4. Posterior (dorsal).

Closer to the top

Closer to the side

Closer to the back.
(The vertebral column is posterior to the heart)

Closer to the front

When referring to the posterior (dorsal) direction, it means closer to the back of the body, opposite to the anterior (ventral) direction which is closer to the front.

Explanation

When referring to the posterior (dorsal) direction, it means closer to the back of the body, opposite to the anterior (ventral) direction which is closer to the front.

5. What does 'medial' refer to?

Closer to the midline.
( The nose is medial to the cheeks)

Above the midline

Below the midline

Farther from the midline

In anatomical terms, 'medial' refers to being closer to the midline of the body, such as the nose being medial to the cheeks.

Explanation

In anatomical terms, 'medial' refers to being closer to the midline of the body, such as the nose being medial to the cheeks.

6. What does it mean when a structure is described as lateral?

Closer to the midline

Above the midline

Below the midline

Farther from the midline.
( The spleen is lateral to the pancreas)

When a structure is described as lateral, it means it is located farther away from the midline of the body.

Explanation

When a structure is described as lateral, it means it is located farther away from the midline of the body.

7. Proximal

Away from the trunk

Parallel to the trunk

Further from the trunk

Closer to the trunk.
(The shoulder is proximal to the elbow)

In anatomical terms, proximal refers to being closer to the trunk or the point of origin, while distal refers to being further away from the trunk or point of origin.

Explanation

In anatomical terms, proximal refers to being closer to the trunk or the point of origin, while distal refers to being further away from the trunk or point of origin.

8. Superficial (external).

Deeper within the body.

Inside the body.

Closer to the surface.
(The skin is superficial to the skeletal muscles)

Unrelated to depth.

The term superficial or external refers to being closer to the surface of the body or object, as opposed to deeper within.

Explanation

The term superficial or external refers to being closer to the surface of the body or object, as opposed to deeper within.

9. What does it mean for something to be deep (internal)?

At the same level as the surface.

Farther from the surface.
(The bones are deep to the skin)

Close to the surface.

Unrelated to the surface.

When something is described as deep (internal), it means that it is located farther away from the surface. For example, bones are considered deep to the skin because they are located beneath the skin, closer to the body's core.

Explanation

When something is described as deep (internal), it means that it is located farther away from the surface. For example, bones are considered deep to the skin because they are located beneath the skin, closer to the body's core.

10. What does the term 'parietal' refer to?

A musical instrument

A type of dance

Pertaining to the wall of a body cavity.
(The membrane lining the pleural cavity is the parietal pleura.)

A type of fruit

The term 'parietal' specifically relates to the wall of a body cavity, such as the parietal pleura lining the pleural cavity.

Explanation

The term 'parietal' specifically relates to the wall of a body cavity, such as the parietal pleura lining the pleural cavity.

11. What does the term 'visceral' pertain to?

Pertaining to the skin.

Pertaining to the nervous system.

Pertaining to an organ.
(The membrane that covers the surface of the lung is the viseral pleura.)

Pertaining to the skeletal system.

The term 'visceral' specifically refers to something relating to the internal organs of the body.

Explanation

The term 'visceral' specifically refers to something relating to the internal organs of the body.

12. What does the term 'ipsilateral' mean?

In front of the body

Above the body

On the same side of the body
(The right lung is ipsilateral to the gallbladder)

On the opposite side of the body

Ipsilateral refers to structures or organs that are located on the same side of the body. For example, the right lung and the gallbladder are ipsilateral because they are both located on the right side of the body.

Explanation

Ipsilateral refers to structures or organs that are located on the same side of the body. For example, the right lung and the gallbladder are ipsilateral because they are both located on the right side of the body.

13. What does the term 'contralateral' refer to?

On the opposite side of the body
( The left arm is contralateral to the right leg)

Within the same organ system

Above the waist

On the same side of the body

Contralateral is a term used in anatomy to describe a location or condition that pertains to the opposite side of the body. It is commonly used to indicate the relationship between body parts or structures that are positioned across the midline of the body.

Explanation

Contralateral is a term used in anatomy to describe a location or condition that pertains to the opposite side of the body. It is commonly used to indicate the relationship between body parts or structures that are positioned across the midline of the body.