Anatomical terminology

Question 1

define anatomical position

Answer 1

standing erect, feet facing forward hip width apart, arms at sides, palm facing forward, head facing forward

Question 2

other body positions

Answer 2

prone - lying face down
supine - lying face up

Question 3

define anatomical plane

Answer 3

plane that separates the body or an organ into 2 regions

Question 4

sagittal plane

Answer 4

vertical plane separating body into left and right

Question 5

median plane

Answer 5

sagittal plane that runs along midline

Question 6

frontal plane

Answer 6

vertical plane that divides body into anterior and posterior

Question 7

transverse plane

Answer 7

perpendicular to length, divides body into superior and inferior

Question 8

what are directional terms

Answer 8

used to describe the position of body parts relative to each other

Question 9

medial/lateral

Answer 9

medial - closer to the median plane
lateral - further from the median plane

Question 10

proximal/distal

Answer 10

proximal - closer to the point of attachment or origin
distal - further from the point of attachment or origin

Question 11

superior/inferior

Answer 11

above/below

Question 12

superficial/deep

Answer 12

closer/further from the body surface

Question 13

palmar/plantar

Answer 13

towards the palm of the hand/sole of the foot

Question 14

anterior/ventral/posterior/dorsal

Answer 14

anterior and ventral - towards the belly or front
posterior and dorsal - towards the spine or the back

Question 15

cephalic, cranial, rostral/caudal

Answer 15

cephalic and cranial - towards the head
rostral - towards the forehead or nose
caudal - towards tail (inferior end)

Question 16

what is a body cavity

Answer 16

fluid filled space that protects and contains the internal organs

Question 17

state body cavities

Answer 17

cranial cavity
vertebral canal
thoracic cavity (2 pleural 1 pericardial)
abdominopelvic cavity

Question 18

cavity membranes

Answer 18

parietal membrane - lines the cavity
visceral membrane - lines the organ

Question 19

flexion/extension

Answer 19

brings lateral surfaces together/away from each other, decreasing/increasing angle between body parts (sagittal plane)

Question 20

lateral extension

Answer 20

tilting trunk or head left or right away from midline (frontal plane)

Question 21

pronation/supination

Answer 21

rotate forarm such that palm faces posteriorly/anteriorly

Question 22

abduction/adduction

Answer 22

moving away/towards median plane

Question 23

medial/lateral rotation

Answer 23

movement about a central axis towards/away from midline

Question 24

circumduction

Answer 24

one end remains relatively stationary, other makes circular motion

Question 25

inversion/eversion

Answer 25

tilting of sole of foot towards/away from midline

Question 26

plantarflexsion/dorsiflexion

Answer 26

foot points downwards away from/upwards towards shin

Question 27

protraction/retraction

Answer 27

moving anteriorly/posteriorly in the transverse plane