Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

Anatomical position

Answer 1

Refers to a person standing upright, facing forward.

Question 2

Anatomical planes

Answer 2

An imaginary line drawn through the body,
dividing it into parts

Question 3

Mid-sagittal / Median Plane

Answer 3

• Single imaginary vertical line along the midline
  of the body.
• Drawn through the long axis of the body.
• Divides the body into 2 identical right & left
  halves.

Question 4

Sagittal plane

Answer 4

• Any vertical line parallel to the median plane.
• Divide the body into right & left parts.
• If this vertical plane runs directly down the middle of
  the body, it is called the midsagittal or median plane.
  If it divides the body into unequal right and left sides,
  it is called a parasagittal plane

Question 5

Horizontal / Transverse Plane

Answer 5

• Any plane perpendicular to both the median
  & coronal planes.
• Divides the body into an upper (superior) &
  lower (inferior) part.

Question 6

Frontal/ Coronal Plane

Answer 6

• Any vertical line perpendicular to the median
  plane.
• Divides the body into a front (anterior) & back
  (posterior) half

Question 7

Oblique Plane

Answer 7

• Passes through a structure or the
  entire body at an angle.

Question 8

Anatomical Section

Answer 8

A slice through the body along a specific plane

Question 9

Mid-sagittal /Median section

Answer 9

Section through the median plane

Question 10

Sagittal Section

Answer 10

Section through any sagittal plane

Question 11

Coronal / Frontal section

Answer 11

Section through any coronal plane

Question 12

Cross / Transverse section

Answer 12

Section through any horizontal plane/s
Perpendicular to the longest axis of the structure

Question 13

Longitudinal section

Answer 13

Section through any sagittal, coronal or longitudinal plane/s
Along the longest axis of the structure

Question 14

Oblique section

Answer 14

Section oblique to the long axis of the structure

Question 15

Superior (Cranial)

Answer 15

Towards the head end or upper part of the body / structure

Question 16

Inferior (Caudal)

Answer 16

Away from head end or towards the lower part of the structure

Question 17

Anterior (Ventral)

Answer 17

Toward the front of the body, in front of another structure

Question 18

Posterior (Dorsal)

Answer 18

Toward the back of the body, behind another structure

Question 19

Medial

Answer 19

Toward the midline of the body, on the inner side of the structure

Question 20

Lateral

Answer 20

Away from the midline of the body, on the outer side of structure

Question 21

Median

Answer 21

Structure on the median plane, exactly in the midline of the body

Question 22

Proximal

Answer 22

Closer to the origin of the body part or point of attachment. Used in the upper and lower limbs

Question 23

Distal

Answer 23

Farther away from the origin of the body part or attachment. Used in the upper and lower limbs

Question 24

Plantar

Answer 24

Refers to the sole of the foot, inferior surface of the foot

Question 25

Palmar

Answer 25

Refers to the palm of the hand, anterior surface of the hand

Question 26

Internal

Answer 26

Situated within or inside

Question 27

External

Answer 27

Situated to the outside or outer part

Question 28

Superficial

Answer 28

Towards the body surface

Question 29

Intermediate

Answer 29

In between two layers or structures

Question 30

Deep

Answer 30

Away from the body surface, more internal

Question 31

Uni-lateral

Answer 31

Occurs only one side of the body

Question 32

Bi-lateral

Answer 32

Paired structures (on both sides) of the body

Question 33

Ipsi-lateral

Answer 33

Occurs on the same side of the body

Question 34

Contra-lateral

Answer 34

Occurs on opposite sides of the body

Question 35

Visceral

Answer 35

Towards the organs, inner covering of the body cavity

Question 36

Parietal

Answer 36

Towards the outer part of the body, outer covering of body

Question 37

Flexion

Answer 37

Bending the joint, decrease the joint angle

Question 38

Extension

Answer 38

Straightening the joint, increase joint angle

Question 39

Plantarflexion

Answer 39

Flexion of the foot, bending at the ankle joint towards the sole of the foot

Question 40

Dorsiflexion

Answer 40

Extension of the foot, bending at the ankle joint towards the dorsum of the foot

Question 41

Lateral flexion

Answer 41

Decrease joint angle in a lateral direction

Question 42

Ipsi-lateral flexion

Answer 42

Flexion, decreasing the angle, on the same side than the muscle contracting to cause the movement

Question 43

Contra-lateral flexion

Answer 43

Flexion, decreasing the angle, on the opposite side than the muscle contracting to cause the movement

Question 44

Abduction

Answer 44

Movement away from the median plane, occurs in a coronal plane

Question 45

Adduction

Answer 45

Movement towards the median plane, occurs in a coronal plane

Question 46

Rotation

Answer 46

Movement of a limb around its own axis

Question 47

Circumduction

Answer 47

Circular movement of the distal part of a limb, around the fixed proximal part. The combined movement of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, medial and lateral rotation as if circumscribing a cone

Question 48

Protraction

Answer 48

Anterior movement of a specific body part

Question 49

Retraction

Answer 49

Posterior movement of a specific body part

Question 50

Protrusion

Answer 50

Anterior movement of the mandible specifically

Question 51

Retrusion

Answer 51

Posterior movement of the mandible specifically

Question 52

Supination

Answer 52

Lateral rotation of the forearm & hand, palm faces anterior in the anatomical position

Question 53

Pronation

Answer 53

Medial rotation of the forearm & hand, palm faces posterior in the anatomical position

Question 54

Elevation

Answer 54

Superior movement of a part of the body

Question 55

Depression

Answer 55

Inferior movement of a part of the body

Question 56

Opposition

Answer 56

Movement of the thumb towards one of the other finger tips

Question 57

Eversion

Answer 57

Turning the plantar surface of the foot away from the midline (laterally)

Question 58

Inversion

Answer 58

Turning the plantar surface of the foot to the midline (medially)