Choosing a specialty

Jill Mathews studied ______ the faculty of medicine and she has just graduated ______ medical
school and is talking about her future:

‘I haven’t decided what to specialize ______ yet. I need more experience before I decide, but I’m
quite attracted ______ the idea of paediatrics because I like working ______ children. I’d
certainly prefer to work with children than, say, elderly patients – so I don’t fancy geriatrics. I
was never very interested ______ detailed anatomy, so the surgical specialties like neurosurgery
don’t really appeal. You have to be good ______ your hands, which I don’t think is a problem for me
– I’ve assisted ______ operations several times, and I’ve even done some minor ops by myself – but
surgeons have to be able to do the same thing again and again without getting bored, like tying off
cut arteries and so on. I don’t think that would be a problem for me, but they need to make
decisions fast and I’m not too good ______ that. I like to have time to think, which means
surgery’s probably not right for me. I considered becoming a general practitioner but to get your
own consulting room (doctor’s office) is so difficult nowadays.’


 1. How many major cavities are there in the body? Name them.

2.      Complete the sentences:

The __________ cavity contains the digestive, excretory, and reproductive organs.

The __________ cavity contains the spinal cord.

The __________ cavity contains the heart, lungs, and associated structures.

The __________ cavity contains the brain.
 3. Complete the sentences:

The __________ plane divides the body into a right and left half.

The __________ plane divides the body/organs into upper and lower portions.

The __________ plane divides the body into an unequal right and left side.

The __________ plane divides the body into an anterior and posterior portion.


4.      Match the corresponding terms and their directions.

1. medial

               a. direction close to the surface of the body

2. lateral

               b. similar to anterior

3. proximal

               c. direction towards the back of the body

4. distal

               d. direction towards  a joint/the trunk

5. inferior

               e. similar to posterior

6. superior

               f. lower  / below a structure located above

7. anterior

               g. direction away from a joint/the trunk

8. posterior

               h. direction towards the right / left body side

9. dorsal

               i. direction towards the front of the body

10. ventral

               j. upper / above a structure located underneath

11. deep

               k. direction away from the surface of the body

12. superficial

               l. direction towards the midline of the body

5. Match the terms with their respective adjective.

1.      wrist

                     a.       otic


                                        1.      thigh

                                                          a.       lumbar

2.      ear

                     b.      occipital


                                        2.      navel

                                                          b.      pectoral

3.      spinal column

                     c.       sternal


                                        3.      lower back

                                                          c.       umbilical

4.      back of head

                     d.      mental


                                        4.      neck

                                                          d.      femoral

5.      breastbone

                     e.       carpal


                                        5.      instep

                                                          e.       tarsal

6.      finger

                     f.        vertebral


                                        6.      chest

                                                          f.        abdominal

7.      chin

                     g.       digital


                                        7.      abdomen

                                                          g.       cervical