Anatomical Terminology Quiz: How Well Do You Know?

The statement "The neck is superior to the pelvis" is correct because anatomically, the neck is positioned above the pelvis in the human body. The neck connects the head to the rest of the body, while the pelvis is located in the lower part of the trunk. Therefore, in terms of anatomical position and directionality, the neck is considered superior to the pelvis.

Anterior refers to the front or forward-facing direction. In this scenario, since Mrs. Jones is walking towards the person, they are looking at her from an anterior view. This means that the person is facing Mrs. Jones and observing her from the front.

In the field of anatomy, the "Anatomical Position" serves as the standard reference framework for describing the relative positions of body parts. This position involves standing upright with feet together, facing the observer, arms at the side, and palms facing forward. This standardized stance is crucial for medical professionals, researchers, and students to accurately communicate and understand spatial relationships between body parts, enhancing the precision and consistency in the field of anatomy.

Jillian is lying in the supine position. The supine position refers to lying flat on the back, facing upward. In this position, the person's chest and abdomen are facing upward, while the back is in contact with the surface they are lying on. Since the question states that Jillian is lying in her crib and playing with a toy above her, it suggests that she is lying on her back, which corresponds to the supine position.

Adduction refers to the movement of a body part towards the midline of the body. In this scenario, Jane's hands were initially away from her body while performing jumping jacks, but now they are at her side, indicating that she has brought her hands closer to the midline of her body. Therefore, the correct movement that Jane completed is adduction.

The correct answer is that the shoulder is lateral to the neck. Lateral refers to the direction away from the midline of the body, and the shoulder is located further away from the midline compared to the neck. This means that the shoulder is positioned on the side of the body, while the neck is more towards the center.

The term "prone" refers to a position where the person is lying face down with their chest and stomach touching the ground. In the given scenario, GI Joe is working on his third set of push-ups, which typically involves lying face down on the ground and pushing himself up using his arms. Therefore, the best description for the position he is in is "prone".

Flexion is the correct answer because when Mrs. Smith reaches her right hand over to her left shoulder to scratch the itch caused by the poison ivy, her elbow joint is bending. Flexion refers to the movement that decreases the angle between two bones at a joint, and in this case, the angle between the upper arm bone (humerus) and the forearm bones (radius and ulna) is decreasing as Mrs. Smith brings her hand closer to her shoulder.

Supination best describes the movement of Mrs. Cicoria's right hand when she held it out with her palm up, waiting for Mr. Cicoria to give her cash. Supination refers to the movement of the forearm and hand in a way that turns the palm facing upward or forward. In this case, Mrs. Cicoria's palm was facing upward, indicating supination.

Lateral flexion refers to the movement of the neck where the head is tilted to the side, bringing the right ear towards the right shoulder. This movement occurs in the frontal plane, allowing the neck to bend sideways. Rotation, on the other hand, refers to the movement of the neck where the head is turned or rotated. Medial flexion and external flexion are not valid terms used to describe the movement of the neck.

When Mrs. Cicoria lifts her foot off the floor in an upward motion, the best description for her ankle movement is dorsiflexion. Dorsiflexion refers to the movement of the foot towards the shin, which is what happens when the foot is lifted off the floor in an upward motion.

The statement "The elbow is distal to the shoulder" is correct because when referring to the position of body parts, distal means further away from the point of attachment or origin. In this case, the elbow is further away from the point of attachment to the body (shoulder) compared to the shoulder itself.

Mark's knees are extended because they are straightened and not bent. In this position, his legs are out in front of him and resting on an ottoman, indicating that his knees are not flexed or hyperextended. Additionally, there is no mention of his knees being rotated, so the correct answer is extended.

When a person stands on their tiptoes, their ankles move in a motion called plantar flexion. Plantar flexion is the movement where the top of the foot moves away from the shin, pointing the toes downward. This motion allows the person to reach higher and extend their reach, enabling them to get their hands on the favorite dish in the cupboard.

The statement "The hip is proximal to the knee" is correct because the term "proximal" refers to a body part that is closer to the point of attachment or the center of the body. In this case, the hip is closer to the center of the body compared to the knee, making it the proximal structure.

Internal rotation refers to the movement of a body part towards the midline of the body. In the given scenario, when Mrs. Smith "scratches that itch" using her right shoulder, she is likely moving her arm inward towards her body's midline, indicating internal rotation at her right shoulder. This movement allows her to reach the itchy spot on her body.

As Jane's hands come together above her head while doing jumping jacks, the movement taking place is abduction. Abduction refers to the movement of a body part away from the midline of the body or the central axis of a limb. In this case, Jane's arms are moving away from the midline of her body as she raises them above her head during the jumping jack exercise.

When turning off the ignition of a van, the action typically involves rotating your arm towards your body, which is described as internal rotation. This movement refers to the rotation of the humerus (upper arm bone) in the shoulder joint towards the center of the body. Supination and pronation refer to the rotation of the forearm, while external rotation is the opposite of internal rotation.