Which term describes near or on the surface of the body?

• A. Parietal
• B. External
• C. Superficial
• D. Peripheral

Answer: (C)

Describing location relative to the body's surface is about how close a structure is to the outer layer. The term that means near or on the surface is superficial. It’s used for parts that are just beneath the skin or at the outermost layers of an organ, so they’re essentially at or very close to the surface. This fits the idea of being near the exterior.

External would refer to something on or outside the outside boundary, but not as specific about being close to the surface of the body itself. Peripheral indicates being on the outer edge or border of an area, which is related to distance from the center rather than distance to the surface. Parietal relates to the wall of a body cavity rather than surface proximity in the general sense.