2026 EXAM PREP STUDY SHEET WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
◉ Anatomy. Answer: "to cut apart"; study of structure of body parts
and relationships to each other
◉ Physiology. Answer: study of the function of the body parts; how
they work to carry out life-sustaining activities
◉ Gross (macroscopic anatomy). Answer: study of large, visible
structures
◉ Microscopic anatomy. Answer: need instrument to see; study of
structures too small to be visible to naked eye
◉ Histology. Answer: study of tissues
◉ Cytology. Answer: study of cells
◉ Developmental Anatomy. Answer: study of structural changes that
occur between conception and adulthood
,◉ Embryology. Answer: study of developments before birth
◉ Gross/Macroscopic Anatomy. Answer: studies large body
structures such as stomach, lungs, heart
◉ Systemic Anatomy. Answer: ex. cardiologist
◉ Regional Anatomy. Answer: ear, nose, throat
◉ Microscopic Anatomy. Answer: ex. cytology, histology
◉ Radiological Anatomy. Answer: study of anatomy using, non-
invasive technology
◉ Computed tomography (CT). Answer: uses x-rays, invented in
1970s x-rays pass through body in thin cross-sections. Computer
puts images of the cross-sections together to give 3D image
◉ Ultrasound. Answer: uses sound waves which get
reflected/scattered when the the wave hits something-analyzed by
computer to generate 2D or 3D image
,◉ Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Answer: uses magnets
◉ Positron emission tomography (PET). Answer: uses radioactive
labeled substance
◉ Anatomic Position. Answer: subject is:
standing erect
facing forward
upper limbs hanging to the sides
palms face forward
◉ Supine. Answer: subject is laying on their back face upward
◉ Prone. Answer: subject is on their belly downward
◉ Superior (cranial). Answer: toward the head end or upper part of
a structure or the body; above
◉ Inferior (caudal). Answer: away from the head end or toward the
lower part of a structure of the body; below
◉ Ventral (anterior). Answer: toward or at the front of the body; in
front of
, ◉ Dorsal (posterior). Answer: toward or at the back of the body;
behind
◉ Medial. Answer: toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner
side of
◉ Lateral. Answer: away from the midline of the body; on the outer
side of
◉ Intermediate. Answer: between a more medial and a more lateral
structure
◉ Proximal. Answer: closer to the origin of the body part or the
point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
◉ Distal. Answer: farther from the origin of a body part or the point
of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
◉ Superficial (external). Answer: toward or at the body surface
◉ Deep (internal). Answer: away from the body surface; more
internal