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ANATOMY OF THE HEAD AND NECK, 6TH EDITION QUESTIONS
UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM LATEST 2026 – 2027 VERSION
SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Anatomy of the Head and Neck, 6th Edition
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY (Questions 1-20)
1. When a patient is positioned in the standard anatomic position, the palms of
both hands are facing toward the front of the body, which classifies this surface as
which of the following anatomical directional terms?
A. Lateral
B. Medial
C. Anterior (Ventral)
D. Posterior (Dorsal)
Answer: C. Anterior (Ventral)
Rationale: In anatomic position, the body is erect with the face forward and the palms
facing anteriorly (toward the front). The anterior surface is also referred to as the ventral
surface. The palms are not facing laterally, medially, or posteriorly in this standardized
position .
2. A clinician performing an extraoral examination of a patient's eyes is visualizing
which surface of the patient's body according to standard anatomical terminology?
A. Posterior surface
B. Superior surface
C. Lateral surface
D. Anterior surface
Answer: D. Anterior surface
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Rationale: The eyes are located on the anterior (front) surface of the body. The posterior
surface refers to the back of the body, the superior surface refers to the top, and the
lateral surface refers to the side aspects .
3. A sagittal plane that is specifically positioned exactly in the midline of the body
and divides it into equal right and left halves is correctly termed which of the
following?
A. Coronal plane
B. Parasagittal plane
C. Midsagittal (median) plane
D. Horizontal (transverse) plane
Answer: C. Midsagittal (median) plane
Rationale: The midsagittal plane (also called median plane) passes through the midline
of the body, dividing it into equal right and left halves. Any sagittal plane parallel but not
identical to the midline is a parasagittal plane. Coronal planes divide anterior-posterior,
and horizontal planes divide superior-inferior .
4. When describing the relationship of the right arm to the left leg, these two
structures are considered to be on opposite sides of the body, which is correctly
described by which anatomical term?
A. Ipsilateral
B. Sagittal
C. Contralateral
D. Proximal
Answer: C. Contralateral
Rationale: Contralateral structures are located on the opposite side of the body, which
accurately describes the relationship between the right arm and left leg. Ipsilateral
would describe structures on the same side of the body, such as the right arm and right
leg .
5. A dental professional palpating the temporomandibular joint during an extraoral
examination would place their fingers directly anterior to which palpable landmark
of the external ear?
A. The tragus of the ear
B. The helix of the ear
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C. The lobule of the ear
D. The antihelix of the ear
Answer: A. The tragus of the ear
Rationale: The TMJ is located just anterior to the tragus of the ear. When the patient
opens and closes the mouth, the condylar movement can be palpated in this region.
The helix, lobule, and antihelix are other landmarks of the auricle but are not directly
related to TMJ palpation.
6. An area of the body that is situated closer to the median plane is considered
proximal, whereas an area that is farther from the median plane is considered
distal; which of the following statements correctly evaluates this directional
terminology?
A. Both statements are true
B. Both statements are false
C. The first statement is true and the second is false
D. The first statement is false and the second is true
Answer: B. Both statements are false
Rationale: Both statements are incorrect. An area closer to the median plane is actually
considered medial (not proximal), and an area farther from the median plane is
considered lateral (not distal). Proximal and distal are terms used to describe positions
along the limbs relative to the trunk .
7. The horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions is
also known by which alternative anatomical term that clinicians frequently use
when describing cross-sectional anatomy?
A. Coronal plane
B. Sagittal plane
C. Transverse plane
D. Median plane
Answer: C. Transverse plane
Rationale: The horizontal plane is also correctly termed the transverse plane, as it
divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. The coronal plane
divides anterior-posterior, the sagittal plane divides right-left, and the median plane is a
specific midline sagittal plane .
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8. In standard anatomical terminology, structures that are located on the same
side of the body as one another, such as the right eye and the right ear, are correctly
described by which of the following directional terms?
A. Contralateral
B. Ipsilateral
C. Medial
D. Lateral
Answer: B. Ipsilateral
Rationale: Ipsilateral structures are located on the same side of the body. The right eye
and right ear are both on the right side of the body, making them ipsilateral to each
other. Contralateral would describe opposite-side structures, medial refers to closer to
midline, and lateral refers to farther from midline .
9. The frontal plane, which divides the body into anterior and posterior portions, is
also known by which alternative term that is commonly used in anatomical and
clinical descriptions?
A. Transverse plane
B. Coronal plane
C. Sagittal plane
D. Median plane
Answer: B. Coronal plane
Rationale: The frontal plane is synonymous with the coronal plane. Both terms describe
a vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.
This terminology is commonly used in imaging and anatomical descriptions .
10. When describing the relationship between the teeth and the surrounding bone,
the teeth are considered to be superficial while the bone is deep; this terminology
refers to which anatomical directional concept of relative position?
A. Relative proximity to the surface of the body
B. Relative proximity to the median plane
C. Relative position along the long axis of a limb
D. Relative position on the same or opposite side of the body
Answer: A. Relative proximity to the surface of the body
Rationale: Superficial and deep describe the relative distance from the surface of the
body or a structure. Superficial structures are closer to the surface, while deep
ANATOMY OF THE HEAD AND NECK, 6TH EDITION QUESTIONS
UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM LATEST 2026 – 2027 VERSION
SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Anatomy of the Head and Neck, 6th Edition
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY (Questions 1-20)
1. When a patient is positioned in the standard anatomic position, the palms of
both hands are facing toward the front of the body, which classifies this surface as
which of the following anatomical directional terms?
A. Lateral
B. Medial
C. Anterior (Ventral)
D. Posterior (Dorsal)
Answer: C. Anterior (Ventral)
Rationale: In anatomic position, the body is erect with the face forward and the palms
facing anteriorly (toward the front). The anterior surface is also referred to as the ventral
surface. The palms are not facing laterally, medially, or posteriorly in this standardized
position .
2. A clinician performing an extraoral examination of a patient's eyes is visualizing
which surface of the patient's body according to standard anatomical terminology?
A. Posterior surface
B. Superior surface
C. Lateral surface
D. Anterior surface
Answer: D. Anterior surface
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Rationale: The eyes are located on the anterior (front) surface of the body. The posterior
surface refers to the back of the body, the superior surface refers to the top, and the
lateral surface refers to the side aspects .
3. A sagittal plane that is specifically positioned exactly in the midline of the body
and divides it into equal right and left halves is correctly termed which of the
following?
A. Coronal plane
B. Parasagittal plane
C. Midsagittal (median) plane
D. Horizontal (transverse) plane
Answer: C. Midsagittal (median) plane
Rationale: The midsagittal plane (also called median plane) passes through the midline
of the body, dividing it into equal right and left halves. Any sagittal plane parallel but not
identical to the midline is a parasagittal plane. Coronal planes divide anterior-posterior,
and horizontal planes divide superior-inferior .
4. When describing the relationship of the right arm to the left leg, these two
structures are considered to be on opposite sides of the body, which is correctly
described by which anatomical term?
A. Ipsilateral
B. Sagittal
C. Contralateral
D. Proximal
Answer: C. Contralateral
Rationale: Contralateral structures are located on the opposite side of the body, which
accurately describes the relationship between the right arm and left leg. Ipsilateral
would describe structures on the same side of the body, such as the right arm and right
leg .
5. A dental professional palpating the temporomandibular joint during an extraoral
examination would place their fingers directly anterior to which palpable landmark
of the external ear?
A. The tragus of the ear
B. The helix of the ear
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C. The lobule of the ear
D. The antihelix of the ear
Answer: A. The tragus of the ear
Rationale: The TMJ is located just anterior to the tragus of the ear. When the patient
opens and closes the mouth, the condylar movement can be palpated in this region.
The helix, lobule, and antihelix are other landmarks of the auricle but are not directly
related to TMJ palpation.
6. An area of the body that is situated closer to the median plane is considered
proximal, whereas an area that is farther from the median plane is considered
distal; which of the following statements correctly evaluates this directional
terminology?
A. Both statements are true
B. Both statements are false
C. The first statement is true and the second is false
D. The first statement is false and the second is true
Answer: B. Both statements are false
Rationale: Both statements are incorrect. An area closer to the median plane is actually
considered medial (not proximal), and an area farther from the median plane is
considered lateral (not distal). Proximal and distal are terms used to describe positions
along the limbs relative to the trunk .
7. The horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions is
also known by which alternative anatomical term that clinicians frequently use
when describing cross-sectional anatomy?
A. Coronal plane
B. Sagittal plane
C. Transverse plane
D. Median plane
Answer: C. Transverse plane
Rationale: The horizontal plane is also correctly termed the transverse plane, as it
divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. The coronal plane
divides anterior-posterior, the sagittal plane divides right-left, and the median plane is a
specific midline sagittal plane .
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8. In standard anatomical terminology, structures that are located on the same
side of the body as one another, such as the right eye and the right ear, are correctly
described by which of the following directional terms?
A. Contralateral
B. Ipsilateral
C. Medial
D. Lateral
Answer: B. Ipsilateral
Rationale: Ipsilateral structures are located on the same side of the body. The right eye
and right ear are both on the right side of the body, making them ipsilateral to each
other. Contralateral would describe opposite-side structures, medial refers to closer to
midline, and lateral refers to farther from midline .
9. The frontal plane, which divides the body into anterior and posterior portions, is
also known by which alternative term that is commonly used in anatomical and
clinical descriptions?
A. Transverse plane
B. Coronal plane
C. Sagittal plane
D. Median plane
Answer: B. Coronal plane
Rationale: The frontal plane is synonymous with the coronal plane. Both terms describe
a vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.
This terminology is commonly used in imaging and anatomical descriptions .
10. When describing the relationship between the teeth and the surrounding bone,
the teeth are considered to be superficial while the bone is deep; this terminology
refers to which anatomical directional concept of relative position?
A. Relative proximity to the surface of the body
B. Relative proximity to the median plane
C. Relative position along the long axis of a limb
D. Relative position on the same or opposite side of the body
Answer: A. Relative proximity to the surface of the body
Rationale: Superficial and deep describe the relative distance from the surface of the
body or a structure. Superficial structures are closer to the surface, while deep
