BIOS251 / BIOS 251 Lab Practicum: Anatomy & Physiology I
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Directional Terminology, Body Planes & Cavities
Q1: A patient is lying face down on the examination table. Which anatomical term
describes this position?
A. Supine
B. Prone [CORRECT]
C. Lithotomy
D. Fowler's
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. This choice is correct because prone means lying face
down, while supine is lying face up—remember the anatomical position is the standard
reference point where the body stands erect, facing forward, with palms facing
anteriorly, and all directional terms relate back to this position.
Q2: During a lab dissection, the student is instructed to make a cut that separates the
body into anterior and posterior portions. Which plane is being described?
A. Sagittal plane
,B. Frontal (coronal) plane [CORRECT]
C. Transverse plane
D. Midsagittal plane
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. This choice is correct because the frontal or coronal
plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions—think of it like
a door swinging open on a hinge, separating front from back. Remember the sagittal
plane divides left from right, and the transverse plane divides superior from inferior.
Q3: The heart is located in which body cavity?
A. Abdominal cavity
B. Pelvic cavity
C. Pericardial cavity within the mediastinum [CORRECT]
D. Pleural cavity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. This choice is correct because the heart sits in the
pericardial cavity, which is a subdivision of the mediastinum—the central compartment
of the thoracic cavity that also contains the trachea, esophagus, and major blood
vessels. Remember that the pleural cavities contain the lungs, and the mediastinum is
the space between them.
,Q4: A surgeon needs to drain fluid from a patient's pleural cavity. Which serous
membrane lines the cavity wall, and which covers the lung itself?
A. Parietal peritoneum lines the wall; visceral peritoneum covers the lung
B. Parietal pleura lines the wall; visceral pleura covers the lung [CORRECT]
C. Parietal pericardium lines the wall; visceral pericardium covers the lung
D. Parietal meninges line the wall; visceral meninges cover the lung
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. This choice is correct because serous membranes
always have two layers: the parietal layer lines the body wall of the cavity, and the
visceral layer covers the organ itself—the thin film of serous fluid between them reduces
friction during breathing. Remember that "parietal" refers to the wall, and "visceral"
refers to the organ, and this pattern holds true for pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum.
Q5: In anatomical position, the thumb is ___ to the pinky finger.
A. Medial
B. Lateral [CORRECT]
C. Proximal
D. Distal
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. This choice is correct because in anatomical position,
the thumb is on the lateral side of the hand (away from the midline of the body), while
, the pinky is on the medial side—remember that medial and lateral always refer to the
midline of the body, not the center of the limb itself.
Q6: A patient has pain in the right upper quadrant (RUQ). Which organ is most likely the
source of this pain?
A. Spleen
B. Appendix
C. Liver [CORRECT]
D. Urinary bladder
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. This choice is correct because the liver occupies most
of the right upper quadrant, along with the gallbladder and part of the right kidney—the
spleen is in the left upper quadrant, the appendix is in the right lower quadrant, and the
bladder is in the hypogastric region. Remember the four-quadrant system is divided by a
horizontal and vertical line through the umbilicus.
Q7: The elbow is ___ to the wrist.
A. Distal
B. Proximal [CORRECT]
C. Inferior
D. Superficial
Correct Answer: B
with Lab – Chamberlain Actual Exam Complete Questions &
Rationales | A&P Lab Skills | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Directional Terminology, Body Planes & Cavities
Q1: A patient is lying face down on the examination table. Which anatomical term
describes this position?
A. Supine
B. Prone [CORRECT]
C. Lithotomy
D. Fowler's
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. This choice is correct because prone means lying face
down, while supine is lying face up—remember the anatomical position is the standard
reference point where the body stands erect, facing forward, with palms facing
anteriorly, and all directional terms relate back to this position.
Q2: During a lab dissection, the student is instructed to make a cut that separates the
body into anterior and posterior portions. Which plane is being described?
A. Sagittal plane
,B. Frontal (coronal) plane [CORRECT]
C. Transverse plane
D. Midsagittal plane
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. This choice is correct because the frontal or coronal
plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions—think of it like
a door swinging open on a hinge, separating front from back. Remember the sagittal
plane divides left from right, and the transverse plane divides superior from inferior.
Q3: The heart is located in which body cavity?
A. Abdominal cavity
B. Pelvic cavity
C. Pericardial cavity within the mediastinum [CORRECT]
D. Pleural cavity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. This choice is correct because the heart sits in the
pericardial cavity, which is a subdivision of the mediastinum—the central compartment
of the thoracic cavity that also contains the trachea, esophagus, and major blood
vessels. Remember that the pleural cavities contain the lungs, and the mediastinum is
the space between them.
,Q4: A surgeon needs to drain fluid from a patient's pleural cavity. Which serous
membrane lines the cavity wall, and which covers the lung itself?
A. Parietal peritoneum lines the wall; visceral peritoneum covers the lung
B. Parietal pleura lines the wall; visceral pleura covers the lung [CORRECT]
C. Parietal pericardium lines the wall; visceral pericardium covers the lung
D. Parietal meninges line the wall; visceral meninges cover the lung
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. This choice is correct because serous membranes
always have two layers: the parietal layer lines the body wall of the cavity, and the
visceral layer covers the organ itself—the thin film of serous fluid between them reduces
friction during breathing. Remember that "parietal" refers to the wall, and "visceral"
refers to the organ, and this pattern holds true for pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum.
Q5: In anatomical position, the thumb is ___ to the pinky finger.
A. Medial
B. Lateral [CORRECT]
C. Proximal
D. Distal
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. This choice is correct because in anatomical position,
the thumb is on the lateral side of the hand (away from the midline of the body), while
, the pinky is on the medial side—remember that medial and lateral always refer to the
midline of the body, not the center of the limb itself.
Q6: A patient has pain in the right upper quadrant (RUQ). Which organ is most likely the
source of this pain?
A. Spleen
B. Appendix
C. Liver [CORRECT]
D. Urinary bladder
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. This choice is correct because the liver occupies most
of the right upper quadrant, along with the gallbladder and part of the right kidney—the
spleen is in the left upper quadrant, the appendix is in the right lower quadrant, and the
bladder is in the hypogastric region. Remember the four-quadrant system is divided by a
horizontal and vertical line through the umbilicus.
Q7: The elbow is ___ to the wrist.
A. Distal
B. Proximal [CORRECT]
C. Inferior
D. Superficial
Correct Answer: B
