Anatomical Positions Flashcards
Coronal Plane
Parallel to coronal suture. Divides body into front and back sections.
Sagittal Plane
Parallel to sagittal suture. Divides body into left and right sections
Median Plane
Sagittal plane passing directly down the middle of the body.
Para-sagittal Plane
Sagittal planes not passing directly through the middle.
Axial Plane
Perpendicular to both sagittal and coronal planes. Pass through horizontally or in transverse direction.
Oblique Plane
Any plane not parallel to one of the three cardinal planes.
Anterior (Ventral)/Posterior (Dorsal)
Front/Back
Medial/Lateral
Closer to the medial plane/Further from the medial plane
Superior (Cranial)/Inferior (Caudal)
Towards the top of the head/Toward the bottom of the feet
Intermediate
Between two structures. E.g. The knee is intermediate between the hip and the ankle
Proximal/Distal
Towards the trunk/Away from the trunk
Superficial/Deep
Closer to the body surface/Deep away from the body surface
Interior/Exterior
Nearer the centre of an organ or cavity/Further from the centre of an organ or cavity
Ipsilateral/Contralateral
Same side of body/Opposite side of body
Flexion/Extension/Hyperextension
Decreasing angle between bones/Straightening of a flexed part/Movement beyond the that necessary to straighten the joint
Abduction/Adduction
Moving apart or away from the median plane/Moving together or towards the median plane
Elevation/Depression
Lifting, raising or moving a part superiorly/Lowering or moving a part inferiorly
Protraction/Retraction
Moving something anteriorly/Moving something posteriorly
Circumduction
Draw around or form a circle. Combination of flexion, abduction, extension and adduction.
Supination/Pronation
Rotation of forearm so palm faces anteriorly/Rotation of forearm so palm faes posteriorly
Opposition/Reposition
Bringing the thumb across to the finger pads/Returning the thumb back to the anatomical position
Dorsiflexion/Plantarflexion
Decrease angle of the ankle/Increase angle of the ankle
Name 3 Gait disorders and explain them
- Antalgic Gait: shortened stance phase on the affected side, usually due to pain
- Cerebellar Ataxia: slow pace and wide based stance, due to loss of balance. (E.g. central neurological problem)
- High stoppage gait: weakness of dorsiflexion, high stepping gait with no heel strike. (E.g. central neurological problem, peripheral nerve problem, muscular problem).
