Directional terms describe where one structure is relative to another, always from anatomical position: standing, facing forward, palms forward, with left and right meaning the person's own sides. Superior is toward the head, anterior is the front, medial is toward the midline, proximal is toward the trunk and superficial is toward the surface.
What are the directional terms on the TEAS?
Superior (cranial): toward the head end; inferior (caudal): away from the head.
Medial: toward the midline; lateral: away from the midline.
Proximal: toward the trunk or a part's point of origin; distal: farther from it.
Superficial: toward the body surface; deep: farther from the surface.
What are the body planes?
Sagittal plane: vertical, front to back; divides right from left. The midsagittal (median) plane makes equal halves.
Coronal (frontal) plane: vertical, side to side; divides anterior from posterior.
Transverse (axial) plane: horizontal; divides superior from inferior.
Which organ belongs to which system?
Brain and spinal cord: nervous
Thyroid and pituitary glands: endocrine
Lungs and trachea: respiratory
Heart: cardiovascular
Stomach, small intestine, large intestine and liver: digestive
Kidneys, ureters and urinary bladder: urinary
Femur and other bones: skeletal
Skin: integumentary
Lymph nodes: lymphatic and immune
How the lab works
Hot-spot items make two to five areas of an original body map clickable, as in ATI's hot-spot format, and every area can also be chosen from a list.
A matching round sorts organs into systems with drop-down menus.
A plane and term check covers sagittal, coronal and transverse planes and the paired directional terms.
Questions and answers
What is anatomical position? The body stands upright facing forward, feet flat and pointing forward, arms at the sides with palms facing forward. Every directional term assumes this position, and left and right always mean the subject's own sides, not the viewer's.
What is the difference between proximal and distal? Proximal means toward or nearest the trunk or a part's point of origin; distal means farther from it. They are mainly used on limbs: the elbow is proximal to the wrist, and the fingers are distal to the wrist. Superior and inferior answer a different question: toward the head or away from it.
What are the three main body planes? The sagittal plane divides right from left (the midsagittal or median plane makes equal halves). The coronal or frontal plane divides anterior from posterior. The transverse or axial plane is horizontal and divides superior from inferior parts.
Which body systems are on the TEAS 7? ATI's content table gives Human Anatomy and Physiology 18 scored items. TEASPATH's objective map, built from ATI's outline, covers body orientation, breathing, circulation, digestion, neural control, muscle, reproduction, skin, hormones, kidneys, immunity and the skeleton.
What is a hot-spot question? ATI describes a hot-spot item as an image with two to five clickable areas. You select the area that answers the question. Each hot-spot item in this lab makes two to five areas active, and every area can also be chosen from a list.
Do left and right mean my left or the patient's left? The patient's. When a figure faces you in anatomical position, its right side is on your left. Many test questions use this to check whether you apply the convention.
Sample questions with explanations
In anatomical position, which statement is correct? Answer: B. The wrist is distal to the elbow.. Distal means farther from where the limb attaches to the trunk. The wrist is farther from the shoulder than the elbow is, so the wrist is distal to the elbow. Each other option reverses the relationship.
Which plane would separate the face from the back of the head? Answer: C. Coronal (frontal) plane. The face is anterior and the back of the head is posterior. The coronal (frontal) plane runs side to side and separates anterior from posterior parts. Sagittal planes separate right from left; a transverse plane separates upper from lower.
A structure filters blood and forms urine. To which body system does it belong? Answer: B. Urinary. The kidneys filter blood and form urine, so they belong to the urinary system with the ureters, bladder and urethra. The large intestine absorbs water from undigested food, which is a digestive role.
TEASPATH is independent of ATI. Lab scenarios, data and questions are original practice material, not real TEAS items. Practice results are not official scores or admission predictions.
Independence
TEASPATH is independent of ATI. ATI TEAS® and TEAS® are registered trademarks of Assessment Technologies Institute, L.L.C., which is not affiliated with and does not endorse TEASPATH. Practice results are not official scores or admission predictions.