Chapter 2 - Where, Why, & What

Question 1

Ventral

Answer 1

Refers to the belly or underside of body part.

• Ventr/o in Latin means belly.
• Venture means to undertake.
• A ventral fin is on the belly.
• Think of how the “v” points down.

Question 2

Dorsal

Answer 2

Refers to the back.

• Dors/o in Latin means back.
• Endorse means to sign on the back.
• A dorsal fin is on the back.
• Also refers to the cranial surface of the manus (front paw) and pes (rear paw).

Question 3

Cranial

Answer 3

Toward the head.

-Crani/o in Latin means skull.

Question 4

Caudal

Answer 4

Toward the tail.

-Cauda in Latin means tail.

Question 5

Anterior

Answer 5

Front of the body.
-Anteri/o in Latin means before.
Used more in description of organs or body parts because front and rear are confusing terms in quadrupeds. A quadruped’s belly is orientated downward, nor forward as in humans.

Question 6

Posterior

Answer 6

Rear of the body.

-Posteri/o in Latin means behind.

Question 7

Rostral

Answer 7

Nose end of the head.

-Rostrum in Latin means beak.

Question 8

Cephalic

Answer 8

Pertaining to the head.

-Kephale in Greek means head.

Question 9

Caudal

Answer 9

Toward the tail.

-Cauda in Latin means tail.

Question 10

Medial

Answer 10

Toward the midline.

-Medi/o in Latin means middle.

Question 11

Lateral

Answer 11

Away from the midline.

-Later/o in Latin means side.

Question 12

Superior

Answer 12

Uppermost, above, or toward the head. Used more commonly in bipeds.
-Super in Latin means above.

Question 13

Inferior

Answer 13

Lower most, below, or toward the tail. Used more commonly in bipeds.
-Inferi in Latin means lower.

Question 14

Proximal

Answer 14

Nearest the midline or nearest to the beginning of a structure.
-Proxim/o in Latin means next.

Question 15

Distal

Answer 15

Farthest from the midline or farthest from the beginning of the structure.
-Dist/o in Latin means distant.

Question 16

Superficial

Answer 16

Near the surface; also called external.

-Super in Latin means above.

Question 17

Deep

Answer 17

Means away from the surface; also called internal.

-Deep means below the surface.

Question 18

Palmar

Answer 18

The caudal surface of the manus (front paw) including the carpus (from the antebrachial joint distally).
-Palmar in Latin means hollow of the hand.

Question 19

Plantar

Answer 19

The caudal surface of the pes (rear paw) including the tarsus (from the tibiotarsal joint distally).
-Plantar in Latin means sole of the foot.

Question 20

Midsagittal Plane

Answer 20

The plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves.

• aka median plane
• aka midline

Question 21

Sagittal Plane

Answer 21

The plane that divides the body into unequal right and left parts.

Question 22

Dorsal Plane

Answer 22

The plane that divides the body into dorsal (back) and ventral (belly) parts.

• aka frontal plane.
• aka coronal plane.
• In humans, the frontal plane is a vertical plane because people stand erect.

Question 23

Transverse Plane

Answer 23

The plane that divides the body into cranial and caudal parts.

• aka horizontal plane.
• aka cross-sectional plane.
• May also be used to describe a perpendicular transection to the long axis of an appendage.