WGU Anatomy and Physiology 1 - Complete Exam
Bank Questions AND ANSWERS with Detailed
Rationales for Every Option Updated for 2026 \\
WGU D312 Aligned ACTUAL
SECTION 1: ANATOMICAL TERMINOLOGY & BODY ORGANIZATION
Question 1
Which plane divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) sections?
A) Sagittal plane
B) Coronal plane
C) Transverse plane
D) Midsagittal plane
Correct ANSWER✔✨-: C) Transverse plane
Rationale for each option:
A) Sagittal plane - This is incorrect because the sagittal plane divides the body into left and right
sections, not top and bottom. The sagittal plane runs vertically from front to back.
B) Coronal plane - This is incorrect because the coronal (frontal) plane divides the body into anterior
(front) and posterior (back) sections, not superior and inferior portions.
,C) Transverse plane - This is CORRECT. The transverse plane, also called the horizontal plane, runs
parallel to the ground and divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) sections. This plane
is commonly used in medical imaging such as CT scans and MRIs.
D) Midsagittal plane - This is incorrect because the midsagittal (median) plane divides the body into
equal left and right halves. It is a specific type of sagittal plane that passes through the midline.
Question 2
Which directional term means "toward the head"?
A) Caudal
B) Cephalic
C) Ventral
D) Distal
Correct ANSWER✔✨-: B) Cephalic
Rationale for each option:
A) Caudal - This is incorrect because caudal means "toward the tail" or inferiorly. In humans, this refers
to structures closer to the feet or lower end of the spine.
B) Cephalic - This is CORRECT. Cephalic means toward the head, which for humans in anatomical
position is the same as superior. This term comes from the Greek word "kephale" meaning head.
C) Ventral - This is incorrect because ventral means "toward the belly" or anterior/front side of the body.
This term does not indicate direction toward the head.
D) Distal - This is incorrect because distal means "farther from the trunk or point of origin." This term
describes relative position along a limb, not direction toward the head.
,Question 3
The term "proximal" means:
A) Toward the midline
B) Away from the surface
C) Closer to the trunk or point of origin
D) Toward the back
Correct ANSWER✔✨-: C) Closer to the trunk or point of origin
Rationale for each option:
A) Toward the midline - This is incorrect because "toward the midline" describes the term medial, not
proximal. Medial structures are closer to the body's midline.
B) Away from the surface - This is incorrect because "away from the surface" describes the term deep
(or internal). Proximal does not relate to depth.
C) Closer to the trunk or point of origin - This is CORRECT. Proximal indicates that a structure is closer to
the trunk of the body or the point of attachment. For example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist
because it is closer to the shoulder/trunk.
D) Toward the back - This is incorrect because "toward the back" describes the term dorsal or posterior.
Proximal does not indicate direction toward the back.
Question 4
Which cavity contains the brain?
A) Vertebral cavity
B) Thoracic cavity
, C) Cranial cavity
D) Abdominal cavity
Correct ANSWER✔✨-: C) Cranial cavity
Rationale for each option:
A) Vertebral cavity - This is incorrect because the vertebral (spinal) cavity contains the spinal cord, not
the brain. It is formed by the vertebral column.
B) Thoracic cavity - This is incorrect because the thoracic cavity contains the heart, lungs, esophagus,
and major blood vessels, but not the brain. It is enclosed by the rib cage.
C) Cranial cavity - This is CORRECT. The cranial cavity is enclosed by the skull and contains the brain. It is
part of the dorsal body cavity along with the vertebral cavity.
D) Abdominal cavity - This is incorrect because the abdominal cavity contains digestive organs like the
stomach, liver, and intestines. The brain is protected by the skull, not located in the abdomen.
Question 5
What does the coronal plane divide the body into?
A) Top and bottom sections
B) Left and right sections
C) Front and back sections
D) Equal left and right halves
Correct ANSWER✔✨-: C) Front and back sections
Rationale for each option:
Bank Questions AND ANSWERS with Detailed
Rationales for Every Option Updated for 2026 \\
WGU D312 Aligned ACTUAL
SECTION 1: ANATOMICAL TERMINOLOGY & BODY ORGANIZATION
Question 1
Which plane divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) sections?
A) Sagittal plane
B) Coronal plane
C) Transverse plane
D) Midsagittal plane
Correct ANSWER✔✨-: C) Transverse plane
Rationale for each option:
A) Sagittal plane - This is incorrect because the sagittal plane divides the body into left and right
sections, not top and bottom. The sagittal plane runs vertically from front to back.
B) Coronal plane - This is incorrect because the coronal (frontal) plane divides the body into anterior
(front) and posterior (back) sections, not superior and inferior portions.
,C) Transverse plane - This is CORRECT. The transverse plane, also called the horizontal plane, runs
parallel to the ground and divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) sections. This plane
is commonly used in medical imaging such as CT scans and MRIs.
D) Midsagittal plane - This is incorrect because the midsagittal (median) plane divides the body into
equal left and right halves. It is a specific type of sagittal plane that passes through the midline.
Question 2
Which directional term means "toward the head"?
A) Caudal
B) Cephalic
C) Ventral
D) Distal
Correct ANSWER✔✨-: B) Cephalic
Rationale for each option:
A) Caudal - This is incorrect because caudal means "toward the tail" or inferiorly. In humans, this refers
to structures closer to the feet or lower end of the spine.
B) Cephalic - This is CORRECT. Cephalic means toward the head, which for humans in anatomical
position is the same as superior. This term comes from the Greek word "kephale" meaning head.
C) Ventral - This is incorrect because ventral means "toward the belly" or anterior/front side of the body.
This term does not indicate direction toward the head.
D) Distal - This is incorrect because distal means "farther from the trunk or point of origin." This term
describes relative position along a limb, not direction toward the head.
,Question 3
The term "proximal" means:
A) Toward the midline
B) Away from the surface
C) Closer to the trunk or point of origin
D) Toward the back
Correct ANSWER✔✨-: C) Closer to the trunk or point of origin
Rationale for each option:
A) Toward the midline - This is incorrect because "toward the midline" describes the term medial, not
proximal. Medial structures are closer to the body's midline.
B) Away from the surface - This is incorrect because "away from the surface" describes the term deep
(or internal). Proximal does not relate to depth.
C) Closer to the trunk or point of origin - This is CORRECT. Proximal indicates that a structure is closer to
the trunk of the body or the point of attachment. For example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist
because it is closer to the shoulder/trunk.
D) Toward the back - This is incorrect because "toward the back" describes the term dorsal or posterior.
Proximal does not indicate direction toward the back.
Question 4
Which cavity contains the brain?
A) Vertebral cavity
B) Thoracic cavity
, C) Cranial cavity
D) Abdominal cavity
Correct ANSWER✔✨-: C) Cranial cavity
Rationale for each option:
A) Vertebral cavity - This is incorrect because the vertebral (spinal) cavity contains the spinal cord, not
the brain. It is formed by the vertebral column.
B) Thoracic cavity - This is incorrect because the thoracic cavity contains the heart, lungs, esophagus,
and major blood vessels, but not the brain. It is enclosed by the rib cage.
C) Cranial cavity - This is CORRECT. The cranial cavity is enclosed by the skull and contains the brain. It is
part of the dorsal body cavity along with the vertebral cavity.
D) Abdominal cavity - This is incorrect because the abdominal cavity contains digestive organs like the
stomach, liver, and intestines. The brain is protected by the skull, not located in the abdomen.
Question 5
What does the coronal plane divide the body into?
A) Top and bottom sections
B) Left and right sections
C) Front and back sections
D) Equal left and right halves
Correct ANSWER✔✨-: C) Front and back sections
Rationale for each option:
