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Quizzes > Quizzes for Business > Healthcare

Ace Your Anatomy Terminology Knowledge Test

Test Your Mastery of Body Structure Terms

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Christopher RaymondUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to Anatomy Terminology Knowledge Test quiz

Use this Anatomy Terminology Knowledge Test to practice key terms for body regions, directions, and common prefixes. You'll answer 15 multiple-choice questions with instant feedback to spot gaps before an exam or lab, or warm up for the full anatomy test or a quick terminology check .

Which directional term indicates the front of the human body?
Superior
Inferior
Anterior
Posterior
The term anterior refers to the front surface of the body. Posterior refers to the back, superior to structures above, and inferior to structures below. Anterior and ventral are often used interchangeably in human anatomy.
The prefix 'cardio-' in anatomical terminology refers to which organ?
Lung
Kidney
Heart
Brain
The prefix cardio- is derived from the Greek word kardia meaning heart. Neuro- refers to the brain or nerves, pneumon- to lungs, and nephro- to kidneys. Understanding common prefixes helps decode medical terms.
What does the suffix '-itis' mean in medical terminology?
Inflammation
Surgical removal
Study of
Disease
The suffix -itis denotes inflammation of a tissue or organ. For example, arthritis is inflammation of a joint. Other suffixes like -logy indicate study and -ectomy indicate removal.
If you describe the elbow as proximal to the wrist, what does 'proximal' mean?
Closer to the trunk of the body
Towards the front of the body
Towards the back of the body
Farther from the trunk of the body
'Proximal' describes a structure that is closer to the trunk or point of origin of a limb. The elbow is closer to the shoulder (trunk) than the wrist. 'Distal' is the term for farther from the trunk.
Which term describes the neck region of the body?
Thoracic
Cervical
Lumbar
Sacral
The cervical region refers to the neck area. The thoracic region is the chest, lumbar is the lower back, and sacral relates to the area between the hips. Familiarity with regional terms aids clear anatomical communication.
Which term describes movement of a limb away from the midline of the body?
Abduction
Extension
Flexion
Adduction
Abduction refers to moving a limb away from the midline. Adduction is movement toward the midline, flexion decreases a joint angle, and extension increases it. These terms describe joint motions in multiple planes.
Which root word refers to the kidney?
Hepa-
Nephro-
Neuro-
Cardio-
The root nephro- comes from the Greek nephros, meaning kidney. Cardio- refers to the heart, hepa- to the liver, and neuro- to nerves. Recognizing roots helps decode complex medical terminology.
In anatomical terms, the navel (umbilicus) is ____ to the sternum.
Inferior
Superior
Medial
Lateral
Inferior means below or toward the feet, so the umbilicus is inferior to the sternum. Superior means above, lateral away from the midline, and medial toward the midline. Directional terms establish clear spatial relationships.
Which organ is located in the pelvic cavity?
Lung
Urinary bladder
Stomach
Heart
The urinary bladder resides in the pelvic cavity along with reproductive organs and the rectum. The lungs are in the thoracic cavity, the heart in the mediastinum, and the stomach in the abdominal cavity.
The term 'hepatic' pertains to which organ?
Lung
Liver
Kidney
Spleen
Hepatic derives from the Greek hepar meaning liver. It is commonly used in terms like hepatic artery or hepatic duct. Knowing tissue-specific adjectives helps in clinical and lab contexts.
In the anatomical position, the palms of the hands face which direction?
Superior
Anterior
Lateral
Posterior
In the standard anatomical position, the body stands erect with arms at the sides and palms facing anteriorly. Posterior is facing the back, lateral away from the midline, and superior means above.
What does the prefix 'epi-' mean in the word epidermis?
Within
Between
Below
Upon or above
The prefix epi- means upon or above, so epidermis is the outermost layer of skin. Hypo- is below, intra- within, and inter- between. Prefixes orient the position or relationship of structures.
A transverse plane divides the body into which two sections?
Superior and inferior
Medial and lateral
Anterior and posterior
Proximal and distal
A transverse (horizontal) plane cuts the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts. A coronal plane divides anterior/posterior and a sagittal plane divides medial/lateral. Plane terminology is key for anatomical imaging.
Which term describes a position toward the midline of the body?
Distal
Proximal
Medial
Lateral
Medial indicates a structure closer to the midline of the body. Lateral refers to structures farther from the midline, proximal closer to the trunk, and distal farther from the trunk.
The dorsal body cavity includes which of the following organs?
Brain and spinal cord
Heart and lungs
Stomach and liver
Kidneys and bladder
The dorsal cavity comprises the cranial cavity (housing the brain) and the vertebral cavity (housing the spinal cord). The heart and lungs are in the ventral cavity's thoracic portion, and others are in the abdominal and pelvic cavities.
In clinical anatomy, the right and left hypochondriac regions are located _____ relative to the epigastric region.
Medial
Lateral
Inferior
Superior
The hypochondriac regions lie lateral to the central epigastric region beneath the rib cartilage. Medial would place them at the midline, inferior would be below, and superior above the epigastric area.
Which term best describes organs located behind the peritoneum, such as the kidneys?
Subperitoneal
Retroperitoneal
Supraperitoneal
Intraperitoneal
Retroperitoneal describes organs that lie posterior to the peritoneal lining, like the kidneys and pancreas. Intraperitoneal organs are suspended within the peritoneal cavity, while sub- and supra- peritoneal are not standard classifications.
Analyze the term 'osteomyelitis.' What does it describe?
Inflammation of bone and bone marrow
Study of bones
Abnormal bone growth
Destruction of bone
Osteomyelitis combines osteo- (bone), myel- (marrow), and -itis (inflammation), indicating inflammation of bone and marrow. Oseto- with -lysis would indicate destruction, and -logy indicates study.
The pericardium is _____ to the diaphragm.
Lateral
Anterior
Superior
Inferior
The pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, sits superior to the diaphragm. Inferior would place it below, lateral to the side, and anterior in front, none of which correctly describe its position relative to the diaphragm.
A sagittal section made to the side of the midline is called a _____ plane.
Parasagittal
Transverse
Coronal
Midsagittal
A parasagittal plane is any sagittal cut offset from the midline. A midsagittal plane divides the body exactly at the midline. Transverse and coronal planes divide the body in horizontal and frontal orientations, respectively.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify key anatomical terms for body regions and systems.
  2. Analyze term roots, prefixes, and suffixes to decode meaning.
  3. Demonstrate understanding of directional and positional terminology.
  4. Apply anatomical vocabulary to describe organ locations accurately.
  5. Evaluate term usage in clinical and laboratory contexts.
  6. Master naming conventions for anatomical structures.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Break down medical terms into prefixes, roots, and suffixes - Think of each term as a puzzle: the prefix tells you "where," the root tells you "what," and the suffix tells you "how." For instance, "arthritis" literally means inflammation (-itis) of a joint (arthr-). Mastering these building blocks makes even the scariest-sounding words feel like a breeze! training.seer.cancer.gov
  2. Get comfy with directional prefixes - Prefixes like "sub-" (beneath), "inter-" (between), and "supra-" (above) turn you into a GPS navigator inside the human body. When you hear "subcutaneous," you'll instantly picture something snug under the skin. It's like a secret map for medical adventures! en.wikipedia.org
  3. Familiarize yourself with procedure and condition suffixes - Suffixes such as "-ectomy" (removal), "-itis" (inflammation), and "-ology" (study of) reveal the action or state in medical jargon. Spotting "appendectomy" means you know it's an appendage removal, while "biology" is the study of life. These endings are like the grand finales of each term! pressbooks.uwf.edu
  4. Study anatomical terms of location - Words like anterior (front), posterior (back), medial (toward midline), and lateral (away from midline) help you describe exactly where things are in the body. It's like giving turn-by-turn directions so there's no chance of getting lost in the anatomy maze. Knowing these terms lets you talk anatomy like a pro! en.wikipedia.org
  5. Practice combining word elements - Mix prefixes, roots, and suffixes to build full terms: "pericarditis" combines peri- (around), card- (heart), and ‑itis (inflammation) to describe inflammation around the heart. It's like crafting your own medical lego creation - one block at a time. The more you play, the faster you learn! training.seer.cancer.gov
  6. Use mnemonic devices for quick recall - Turn complex lists into memorable shortcuts! For example, "SOAP" stands for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan - a handy formula for medical documentation. A catchy mnemonic is like a superhero sidekick that rescues you during exams! en.wikipedia.org
  7. Know about combining vowels - The "o" in words like "osteopathy" (osteo- + ‑pathy) smooths the transition between word parts and makes pronunciation easier. It's like adding a friendly handshake between building blocks. Spotting these vowels keeps your medical language flowing! training.seer.cancer.gov
  8. See how prefixes change meanings dramatically - Compare "hypo-" (under) in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) with "hyper-" (over) in hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). A small prefix swap can flip the entire meaning - so watch your prefixes like a hawk! It's the secret to avoiding mix-ups in reports. pressbooks.uwf.edu
  9. Learn plural forms of tricky words - Medical plurals often break English rules: "diagnosis" becomes "diagnoses," and "appendix" becomes "appendices." Think of these as special exceptions you'll memorize once and never forget. It's like unlocking a secret level in your language game! cliffsnotes.com
  10. Apply anatomical terms in real context - Describe the stomach as inferior (below) to the heart and anterior (in front) of the spine to paint a precise picture. Using these terms in practical examples cements your understanding and keeps your descriptions crystal clear. It's anatomy in action - and trust us, it's fun!
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