Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

Name some features of the anatomical position

Answer 1

Standing upright
Arms at side
Palms forward
Feet together

Question 2

What is meant by anterior and posterior?

Answer 2

Anterior = Front of the body
Posterior = Back of the body

Question 3

What is meant by superior and inferior?

Answer 3

Superior = Towards the head 
Inferior = Towards the feet

Question 4

When can the terms proximal and distal be used?

Answer 4

When describing 2 points on the SAME LIMB

Question 5

What is meant by proximal and distal?

Answer 5

Proximal = closer to the main trunk of the body
Distal = further from the main trunk of the body

Question 6

What is meant by medial and lateral?

Answer 6

Medial = Closer to the mid-line of the body
Lateral = Further from the midline of the body

Question 7

What does cutting in the sagittal plane divide the body into?

Answer 7

Left and right portions

Question 8

What does cutting in the coronal plane divide the body into?

Answer 8

Anterior and posterior portions

Question 9

What does cutting in the transverse plane divide the body into?

Answer 9

Superior and inferior portions

Question 10

What is meant by superficial and deep?

Answer 10

Superficial = close to the surface
Deep = further from surface

Question 11

What two terms are used to describe the front and back surface of the hands?

Answer 11

Palmer and Dorsal

Palmer = palm
Dorsal = posterior hand

Question 12

What two terms are used to describe the upper and lower surfaces of the foot?

Answer 12

Plantar and dorsal

Plantar = sole of foot
Dorsal = superior surface of foot

Question 13

What are two specialist terms used to describe anatomy on the arm? What do they mean?

Answer 13

Ulnar and Radial

Ulnar = medial
Radial = lateral

Question 14

What is meant by the terms ipsilateral and contralateral?

Answer 14

Ipsilateral = structures on the same side
Contralateral = structures on opposite sides

Question 15

Where does movement occur?

Answer 15

At joints (in a given plane)

Question 16

In which plane do flexion and extension movements take place?

Answer 16

In the sagittal plane

Question 17

Where does abduction move structures?

Answer 17

Takes structures away from the midline of the body

Question 18

Where does adduction move structures?

Answer 18

Back towards the midline of the body

Question 19

In what plane do rotations take place?

Answer 19

The transverse plane, either medial (internal rotation) or lateral (external rotation)

Question 20

Circumduction is a combination of which movements?

Answer 20

Flexion, extension, abduction and adduction

Question 21

What two terms can be used specifically to describe movements of the forearm?

Answer 21

Pronation and supination

Pronation movement resulting in the back of the arm/hand showing

Question 22

In which plane does flexion/extension of the thumb take place?

Answer 22

The coronal plane