Which of the following statements is true when comparing two body parts?

• A. The diaphragm is inferior to the stomach. 
• B. The thumb is proximal to the knee.
• C. The nose is posterior to the ears. 
• D. The eyes are medial to the ears. 

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the anatomical directional terms used in the statements: 'inferior' means below, 'proximal' means closer to the point of attachment or origin, 'posterior' means toward the back, and 'medial' means toward the midline of the body.
2. Step 2: Analyze the first statement: 'The diaphragm is inferior to the stomach.' Since the diaphragm is a muscle located above the stomach, this statement is false because the diaphragm is superior, not inferior, to the stomach.
3. Step 3: Analyze the second statement: 'The thumb is proximal to the knee.' The thumb is part of the hand, which is distal (farther) from the trunk compared to the knee, which is part of the leg closer to the trunk. Therefore, the thumb is distal, not proximal, to the knee, making this statement false.
4. Step 4: Analyze the third statement: 'The nose is posterior to the ears.' The nose is located on the front (anterior) of the face, while the ears are on the sides. Therefore, the nose is anterior, not posterior, to the ears, so this statement is false.
5. Step 5: Analyze the fourth statement: 'The eyes are medial to the ears.' The eyes are located closer to the midline of the face compared to the ears, which are more lateral. This means the eyes are indeed medial to the ears, making this statement true.