Questions: Which statement is true? The wrist is proximal to the elbow. The thyroid gland is inferior to the pancreas. The lungs are medial to the heart. The ribs are superficial to the lungs.

The answer is the fourth one: The ribs are superficial to the lungs.

Explanation for each option:

1. The wrist is proximal to the elbow.

   • This statement is incorrect. In anatomical terms, "proximal" means closer to the trunk of the body. The elbow is proximal to the wrist because it is closer to the body's center.

2. The thyroid gland is inferior to the pancreas.

   • This statement is incorrect. "Inferior" means below in anatomical terms. The thyroid gland is located in the neck, while the pancreas is located in the abdomen, making the thyroid gland superior to the pancreas.

3. The lungs are medial to the heart.

   • This statement is incorrect. "Medial" means closer to the midline of the body. The heart is located between the lungs, so the lungs are lateral to the heart, not medial.

4. The ribs are superficial to the lungs.

   • This statement is correct. "Superficial" means closer to the surface of the body. The ribs are indeed superficial to the lungs, as they are located on the outside, providing protection to the lungs.

In summary, the correct statement is that the ribs are superficial to the lungs.