Question

name period
anatomical position identification activity
circle the underlined term that accurately describes the anatomical position relationship in the statements below.

1. the thorax is superior / inferior to the abdomen.
2. the ankle is proximal / distal to the knee.
3. the muscles of the arm are deep / superficial to the skin.
4. the spine is ventral / dorsal to the belly button.
5. the heart is central /peripheral to the rib cage.
6. the sternum is anterior / posterior to the lungs.
7. sweat glands are superficial / deep to the skeleton.
8. the elbow is proximal / distal to the wrist.
9. blood vessels are central / peripheral to the heart.
10. the rib cage is medial / lateral to the vertebrae.
11. jugular veins are superior / inferior to the renal veins (next to the kidneys)
12. the forehead is ventral / dorsal to the back of the head.
13. the nose is medial / lateral to the ears.
14. the stomach is superior / inferior to the esophagus.
15. the trachea is anterior/ posterior to the thyroid gland.
16. the cerebellum is deep / superficial to the skull.
17. the eyeball is anterior /posterior to the optic nerve.
18. the teeth are central / peripheral to the tongue.
19. the urinary bladder is superior / inferior to the kidneys.
20. the pleural membrane surrounding the lungs is superficial / deep to the lungs.
21. the ventricles are medial / lateral to the septum of the heart that divides them.

Explanation:

1. The thorax (chest) is above (superior) the abdomen.
2. The ankle is farther from the trunk (distal) compared to the knee.
3. Muscles are beneath (deep) the skin.
4. The spine is on the back (dorsal) side relative to the belly - button (ventral).
5. The heart is within (central) the rib cage.
6. The sternum (breastbone) is in front (anterior) of the lungs.
7. Sweat glands are on the surface (superficial) relative to the skeleton.
8. The elbow is closer to the trunk (proximal) than the wrist.
9. Blood vessels extend out (peripheral) from the heart.
10. The rib cage is to the side (lateral) of the vertebrae.
11. Jugular veins (in the neck) are above (superior) renal veins (near kidneys).
12. The forehead is front (ventral - in terms of body orientation, though more precisely anterior) relative to the back of the head (dorsal).
13. The nose is in the middle (medial) compared to the ears (lateral).
14. The stomach is below (inferior) the esophagus.
15. The trachea is in front (anterior) of the thyroid gland.
16. The cerebellum is inside (deep) the skull.
17. The eyeball is in front (anterior) of the optic nerve.
18. Teeth are around (peripheral) the tongue.
19. The urinary bladder is below (inferior) the kidneys.
20. The pleural membrane is on the surface (superficial) of the lungs.
21. Ventricles are to the side (lateral) of the septum.

Answer:

1. superior
2. distal
3. deep
4. dorsal
5. central
6. anterior
7. superficial
8. proximal
9. peripheral
10. lateral
11. superior
12. ventral
13. medial
14. inferior
15. anterior
16. deep
17. anterior
18. peripheral
19. inferior
20. superficial
21. lateral