Which of the following anatomical terms are in direct opposition to each other?

The terms that are in direct opposition to each other refer to different orientations of the body or body parts. In this case, the correct choice is ventral and dorsal, which denote opposite sides of the body.

Ventral refers to the front or belly side of the body, while dorsal refers to the back side. These terms help in accurately describing anatomical locations and directions, especially in a three-dimensional space. For instance, in humans, the chest is ventral compared to the back, which is dorsal.

While the other terms—medial and lateral, proximal and distal, superior and inferior—also indicate opposite relationships, they relate to different axes or directions within the body. Medial and lateral refer to positions towards or away from the midline, proximal and distal refer to positions closer to or further from the trunk, and superior and inferior indicate positions above or below one another. However, ventral and dorsal specifically contrast front and back, making them distinctly oppositional in terms of orientation.