Anatomical Position and Terms of Reference

Question 1

coronal (frontal) plane

Answer 1

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

Question 2

sagittal plane

Answer 2

vertical division of the body into right and left portions

Question 3

transverse plane

Answer 3

horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions

Question 4

anterior (A) (ventral)

Answer 4

front of the body

Question 5

posterior (P) (dorsal)

Answer 5

back of the body

Question 6

anterior-posterior (AP)

Answer 6

from front to back, commonly associated with the direction of an x-ray beam

Question 7

posterior- anterior (PA)

Answer 7

from back to front; commonly associated with the direction of an x-ray beam

Question 8

superior (cephalic)

Answer 8

situated above another structure; towards the head

Question 9

inferior (caudal)

Answer 9

situated below another structure; away from the head

Question 10

proximal

Answer 10

toward the beginning or origin of a structure (ex. the proximal end of the femur is the area closest to the hip)

Question 11

distal

Answer 11

away from the beginning or origin of a structure (the distal end of the femur is towards the patella)

Question 12

medial

Answer 12

toward the middle

Question 13

lateral

Answer 13

toward the side

Question 14

axis

Answer 14

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

Question 15

erect

Answer 15

normal standing position

Question 16

decubitus

Answer 16

lying down, especially in bed

Question 17

prone

Answer 17

lying face down and flat

Question 18

recumbent

Answer 18

lying down

Question 19

supine

Answer 19

horizontal recumbent; lying flat on the back

Question 20

flexion

Answer 20

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

Question 21

extension

Answer 21

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

Question 22

abduction

Answer 22

movement away from the body

Question 23

adduction

Answer 23

movement towards the body

Question 24

rotation

Answer 24

circular movement around an axis

Question 25

eversion

Answer 25

turning outward

Question 26

inversion

Answer 26

turning inward

Question 27

supination

Answer 27

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

Question 28

pronation

Answer 28

turning downward or backward of the palmar surface or plantar surface

Question 29

dorsiflexion

Answer 29

bending of the foot or toes upwards

Question 30

plantar flexion

Answer 30

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

Question 31

range of motion (ROM)

Answer 31

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

Question 32

goniometer

Answer 32

instrument used to measure joint angles (gonio = angle)