• 10 terms
  • Checked September 2026

Directional Terms Anatomy Quiz

The ten directional terms, as arrows on a body in the anatomical position.

Directional Terms Anatomy Quiz

Name Date

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Write the name of each numbered term.Answer key

  1. Superior
  2. Inferior
  3. Medial
  4. Lateral
  5. Proximal
  6. Distal
  7. Anterior
  8. Posterior
  9. Superficial
  10. Deep

Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-27. Licence: own work.

Each numbered ring is a button. Use the arrow keys to move between them and Enter to choose. Names are read out in Study, and once a term is answered.

Next step Next: the regions of the body

All 10 terms on the diagram

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On the front view: 6 6

  1. Superior Towards the head, or above another part. The heart is superior to the stomach. Also called cranial.
  2. Inferior Away from the head, or below another part. The knee is inferior to the hip. Also called caudal.
  3. Medial Towards the midline of the body. The nose is medial to the eyes.
  4. Lateral Away from the midline, towards the side. The ears are lateral to the eyes.
  5. Proximal On a limb, nearer to where it joins the trunk. The elbow is proximal to the wrist.
  6. Distal On a limb, farther from where it joins the trunk. The fingers are distal to the wrist.

Front, back, surface: 4 4

  1. Anterior Towards the front of the body. The breastbone is anterior to the spine. Also called ventral.
  2. Posterior Towards the back of the body. The spine is posterior to the heart. Also called dorsal.
  3. Superficial Nearer the surface of the body. The skin is superficial to the muscles.
  4. Deep Farther from the surface of the body. The bone is deep to the muscles.

How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-27. (1) Wikipedia, Anatomical terms of location, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_terms_of_location : the anatomical position; superior (cranial) and inferior (caudal); anterior and posterior (ventral and dorsal); medial and lateral; proximal and distal, nearest to or furthest from a limb's attachment; superficial and deep. (2) OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, 1.6 Anatomical Terminology, https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/1-6-anatomical-terminology (used to check the terms only, nothing copied): anterior (ventral), posterior (dorsal), superior (cranial), inferior (caudal), lateral, medial, proximal, distal, superficial and deep. Licence: own work

The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-27. Own work, nothing traced. Licence: own work

How it works

These are the directional terms of anatomy, each drawn as an arrow: six on a body in the anatomical position from the front, two on the body from the side, and two on a thigh cut across.

Read the full guide

Three pairs on the front view

Superior points up towards the head and inferior down towards the feet. Medial points towards the body's midline and lateral away from it. On a limb, proximal points towards the trunk and distal away from it.

Two more pairs

From the side, anterior points to the front and posterior to the back. In the thigh cut across, superficial points out towards the skin and deep points in towards the bone.

  • Every term compares two places, so it needs a 'than': the knee is proximal to the ankle, but distal to the hip.

Questions and answers

What is the anatomical position?

Standing upright facing forward, feet together, arms at the sides with the palms facing forward. Directional terms always describe the body in this position.

What is the difference between proximal and distal?

Both are used on limbs. Proximal means nearer to where the limb joins the trunk; distal means farther from it. The elbow is proximal to the wrist.

What do anterior and posterior mean?

Anterior means towards the front of the body and posterior towards the back. They are also called ventral and dorsal.

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