Anatomical, Directional, and Regional Terms Flashcards
anterior (ventral)
toward the front
posterior (dorsal)
toward the back
superior
toward the head
inferior
away from the head
medial
toward the midline of the body
lateral
away from the midline of the body
proximal
toward the attached end of the limb, origin of the structure, or midline of the body
distal
away from the attached end of the limb, origin of the structure, or midline of the body
superficial
external; located close to or on the body surface
deep
internal; locate further beneath the body surface than the superficial structure
cervical
regional term referring to the nect
thoracic
regional term referring to the portion of the body between the neck and the abdomen; also known as the chest (thorax)
lumbar
regional term referring to the portion of the back between the abdomen and the pelvis
plantar
the sole or bottom of the feet
dorsal
the top surface of the feet and hands
palmar
the anterior or ventral surface of the hands
saggital plane
a longitudinal line that divides the body into right and left sections
frontal plane
a longitudinal section that divides the body into anterior and posterior parts
transverse plane
also known as the horizontal plane; divides the body into superior and inferior sections
arthro
joint
bi
two
brachium
arm
cardio
heart
cephalo
head
chondro
cartilage
costo
rib
dermo
skin
hemo, hemat
blood
ilio
ilium (the wide upper part of the pelvic bone)
myo
muscle
os, osteo
bone
pulmo
lung
thoraco, thorax
chest
tri
three
anatomical position
a person standing erect with hand, eyes, and the palms facing forward; the feet are together with the toes pointing forward and the arms are hanging by the sides
cardiovascular system
a closed-circuit system composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood
respiratory system
a system that provides a means to replace oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the blood
digestive system
involves processes including the ingestion of food, movement of food along the digestive tract, mechanical preparation of food for digestion, chemical digestion of food, absorption of digested food into the circulatory and lymphatic systems, and elimination of indigestible substances and waste products from the body by defecation
skeletal system
active, living tissue that performs functions such as the support, movement, protection, storage, and formation of blood cells
nervous system
a system whose primary purpose is to collect information about conditions in relation to the body’s external state, analyze this information, and initialize appropriate responses to fulfill specific needs.
flexion
sagittal movement that decreases the angle between two bones
extension
sagittal movement that increases the angle between two bones
dorsiflexion
sagittal movement; moving the top of the foot toward the shin
plantarflexion
sagittal movement; moving the sole of the foot downward (pointing the toes)
abduction
frontal movement; motion away from the midline of the body
adduction
frontal movement; motion toward the midline of the body
elevation
frontal movement; moving to a superior position (only at the scapula AKA shrug)
depression
frontal movement; moving to an inferior position (only at the scapula AKA shrug)
inversion
frontal movement; lifting the medial border of the foot
eversion
frontal movement; lifting the lateral border of the foot
rotation
transverse movement; internal or external turning about the vertical axis of bone
pronation
transverse movement; rotating the hand and wrist medially from the elbow
supination
transverse movement; rotating the hand and wrist laterally from the elbow
horizontal flexion
transverse movement; adduction of the femur
horizontal extension
transverse movement; abduction of the femur
circumduction
multiplanar movement; combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction in sequence (throwing)
opposition
multiplanar movement; thumb movement unique to humans and primates
types of sagittal movement
flexion, extension, dorsiflexion, plantarflexion
types of frontal movement
abduction, adduction, elevation, depression, inversion, eversion
types of transverse movement
rotation, pronation, supination, horizontal flexion, horizontal extension
types of multiplanar movement
circumduction, opposition
