Anatomic Position and Terms of Reference

Question 1

anatomic or anatomical position

Answer 1

a term of reference that health professionals use when noting body planes, positions, or directions: the person is assumed to be standing upright (erect), facing forward, feet pointed forward and slightly apart, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward; the patient is visualized in this pose when applying any other term of reference

Question 2

body planes

Answer 2

reference planes for indicating the location or direction of body parts

Question 3

coronal/frontal plane

Answer 3

vertical division of the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

Question 4

sagittal plane

Answer 4

vertical division of the body into right and left portions

Question 5

transverse plane

Answer 5

horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions

Question 6

anterior (A)

ventral

Answer 6

front of the body

Question 7

posterior (P)

dorsal

Answer 7

back of the body

Question 8

anterior-posterior

AP

Answer 8

from front to back, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray

Question 9

posterior-anterior

PA

Answer 9

from back to front, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray

Question 10

superior

cephalic

Answer 10

situated above another structure, toward the head

Question 11

inferior

caudal

Answer 11

situated below another structure, away from the head

Question 12

proximal

Answer 12

toward the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the proximal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area closest to where it attaches to the hip

Question 13

distal

Answer 13

away from the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the distal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area at the end of the bone near the knee

Question 14

medial

Answer 14

toward the middle (midline)

Question 15

lateral

Answer 15

toward the side

Question 16

axis

Answer 16

the imaginary line that runs through the center of the body or a body part

Question 17

erect

Answer 17

normal standing position

Question 18

decubitus

Answer 18

lying down, especially in a bed; lateral decubitus is lying on the side (decumbo= to lie down)

Question 19

prone

Answer 19

lying face down and flat

Question 20

recumbent

Answer 20

lying down

Question 21

supine

Answer 21

horizontal recumbent; lying flat on the back (“on the spine”)

Question 22

flexion

Answer 22

bending at the joint so that the angle between the bones is decreased

Question 23

extension

Answer 23

straightening at the joint so that the angle between the bones is increased

Question 24

abduction

Answer 24

movement away from the body

Question 25

adduction

Answer 25

movement toward the body

Question 26

rotation

Answer 26

circular movement around an axis

Question 27

eversion

Answer 27

turning outward, i.e., of a foot

Question 28

inversion

Answer 28

turning inward, i.e., of a foot

Question 29

supination

Answer 29

turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) upward or forward

Question 30

pronation

Answer 30

turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) downward or backward

Question 31

dorsiflexion

Answer 31

bending of the foot or toes upward

Question 32

plantar flexion

Answer 32

bending of the sole of the foot by curling the toes toward the ground

Question 33

range of motion (ROM)

Answer 33

total motion possible in a joint, described by the terms related to body movements (i.e., ability to flex, extend, abduct, or adduct); measured in degrees

Question 34

goniometer

Answer 34

instrument used to measure joint angles (gonio=angle)