Anatomical Positions

Question 1

What is functional anatomy?

Answer 1

Functional anatomy is understanding how the body functions and moves.

Example: Studying the muscles involved in running.

Question 2

What type of terminology should be used when describing human movement?

Answer 2

Specialist anatomical terminology.

Example: Using terms like abduction and adduction.

Question 3

In relation to what should movements be described?

Answer 3

Standard ‘Anatomical Position’.

Question 4

In how many planes should movements be described?

Answer 4

In 3 planes.

Question 5

Around how many axes should movements be described?

Answer 5

Around 3 axes.

Question 6

What does ‘anterior’ mean in anatomical terms?

Answer 6

Facing towards the front or located at the front.

Question 7

What does ‘posterior’ mean in anatomical terms?

Answer 7

Facing towards the back or located at the back.

Question 8

What does ‘medial’ refer to in anatomical terms?

Answer 8

Medial refers to being closer to the body’s mid-line.

Question 9

What does ‘lateral’ refer to in anatomical terms?

Answer 9

Lateral refers to being further from the body’s mid-line.

Question 10

What does ‘superior’ refer to in anatomical terms?

Answer 10

Located above or towards the top.

Question 11

What does ‘inferior’ refer to in anatomical terms?

Answer 11

Located below or towards the bottom.

Question 12

What does ‘proximal’ refer to in anatomical terms?

Answer 12

Proximal refers to a position towards the trunk or near the origin of a structure.

Question 13

What does ‘distal’ refer to in anatomical terms?

Answer 13

Distal refers to a position away from the trunk or far from the origin of a structure.

Question 14

What does unilateral mean?

Answer 14

Unilateral refers to one side.

Question 15

What does bilateral mean?

Answer 15

Bilateral refers to both sides.

Question 16

What is the anatomical position?

Answer 16

The anatomical position is standing upright, legs together, toes pointing forwards, arms hanging by the side, with face and palms directed forwards.

Question 17

What is the movement of a body part away from the mid-line called?

Answer 17

Abduction

Question 18

What is the movement of a body part towards the mid-line called?

Answer 18

Adduction

Question 19

What does the sagittal plane divide the body into?

Answer 19

The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left halves.

Question 20

What is the movement of a body part forwards in the sagittal plane generally called?

Answer 20

Movement of a body part forwards in the sagittal plane is generally called flexion.

Question 21

What is the movement of a body part backwards in the sagittal plane generally called?

Answer 21

Movement of a body part backwards in the sagittal plane is generally called extension.

Question 22

What does the transverse (horizontal) plane do?

Answer 22

It divides the body into upper and lower parts.

Question 23

What is lateral (external) rotation?

Answer 23

Rotation of a body part outwards.

Question 24

What is medial (internal) rotation?

Answer 24

Rotation of a body part inwards.

Question 25

What do axes of rotation describe in terms of movement?

Answer 25

Axes of rotation describe movements occurring within a plane and can also describe movements as occurring about an axis.