directional terms

HESI A2
Anatomy and Physiology
Multiple choice
Difficulty 3 of 5

Question

A diagram marks one point on the upper arm and another on the forearm. Relative to the forearm point, which term describes the point on the upper arm?

Distal✗ Incorrect

Distal indicates greater distance from the trunk or origin.
Lateral✗ Incorrect

Lateral concerns distance from the midline.
Proximal✓ Correct

The upper-arm point lies nearer the trunk along the limb.
Medial✗ Incorrect

Medial concerns position toward the midline.

Answer

C. Proximal

Rationale

Compare the two locations along the limb relative to the trunk. The upper-arm point is closer, so it is proximal.

RememberProximal means nearer the trunk or the origin of a part.

Sources

Sources marked “Adapted from” are licensed under CC BY 4.0. We changed the material: its facts are rewritten into an original question, answer options and rationale. The original authors and publishers do not endorse SwipeExam.

Anatomical Terminology SEER Training Modules, National Cancer Institute · License: US government work (public domain) · Retrieved November 2, 2026 · Directional Terms
Adapted from Open RN Medical Terminology, 2nd edition: Chapter 2 Medical Language Related to the Whole Body Open RN (Chippewa Valley Technical College) · License: CC BY 4.0 · Retrieved November 2, 2026 · Anatomical View of the Body, Positions, Locations, and Directional Terms › Directional Terms · 2nd edition, 2024

Last verified: November 5, 2026 2 independent automated checks Question hesi-ap-00042, version 1

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