Anatomical terminology

Question 1

What is the ‘anatomical position?’

Answer 1

A person in the anatomical position standing erect with the head, eyes and toes directed forwards
and the upper limbs hanging by the sides
with the palms facing forwards anteriorly

Question 2

In the DR, cadavers are lying down. When the body is laid down, it may be supine or prone. What is the difference?

Answer 2

supine - lying facing upwards

prone - lysing facing downwards

Question 3

What are ‘anatomical planes?’

Answer 3

imaginary lines that pass through the body in different directions

Question 4

Define ‘coronal (frontal)’

Answer 4

plane at a right angle to the midsagittal plane that divides body & organs into anterior and posterior portions

Question 5

Define ‘sagittal’

Answer 5

the x-z plane that divides the body into 2 equal/unequal halves;
it can be midsagittal or parasagittal

Question 6

Define ‘mid-sagittal (median)’

Answer 6

a vertical plane through midline of the body that divides the body & organs into inferior and superior portions

Question 7

Define ‘transverse’ (termed axial in radiology)

Answer 7

plane that divides the body & organs into superior and inferior portions

Question 8

Define ‘midclavicular line’

Answer 8

pair of vertical lines that pass halfway through the body of the clavicle

Question 9

Define ‘midaxillary line’

Answer 9

coronal line on the torso between anterior and posterior axillary lines

Question 10

Draw out 2 stick people in anatomical position (from front and side-profile) and draw on them the:

a) midsagittal plane
b) transverse plane
c) coronal plane

Answer 10

see document

Question 11

On a figure of a stick, person draw arrows to indicate regions that are:

a) superior
b) medial
c) lateral
d) inferior

Answer 11

see document

Question 12

Define ‘anterior/ventral’

Answer 12

nearer to the front of the body

Question 13

Define ‘posterior/dorsal’

Answer 13

nearer to the back of the body

Question 14

Define ‘superior (cranial)’

Answer 14

toward the head or upper part of a structure

Question 15

Define ‘inferior (caudal)’

Answer 15

away from the head or lower part of a structure

Question 16

Define ‘superficial’

Answer 16

toward/on the surface of the body

Question 17

Define ‘deep’

Answer 17

away from the surface of the body

Question 18

Define ‘medial’

Answer 18

nearer to the midline of the body

Question 19

Define ‘lateral’

Answer 19

farther from the midline of the body

Question 20

Define ‘proximal’

Answer 20

nearer to the point of attachment of a limb to a trunk

Question 21

Define ‘distal’

Answer 21

farther from the point of attachment of a limb to a trunk

Question 22

Define ‘ipsilateral’

Answer 22

on the same side of the body as another structure

Question 23

Define ‘contralateral’

Answer 23

on the opposite side of the body as another structure

Question 24

How can anatomical directions be combined?

Answer 24

for example, a structure being inferomedial or superolateral to something else

Question 25

Most of the time, what are anatomical terms used to describe movements of?

Answer 25

limbs

Question 26

Define ‘abduction’

hint: 1 d and to abduct is to lift upwards

Answer 26

movement of a limb in the coronal plane

away from the sagittal plane

Question 27

Define ‘adduction’

hint: 2ds and the opposite of abduction

Answer 27

movement of a limb in the coronal plane

towards the sagittal plane

Question 28

Define ‘flexion’

hint: flexing takes work

Answer 28

Bending movement in the sagittal plane (this can be applied to the trunk and neck as well as the limbs)
decreasing the angle

Question 29

Define ‘extension’

hint: to extend is to make bigger

Answer 29

Straightening movement in the sagittal plane (this can be applied to the trunk and neck as well as the limbs)
increasing the angle

Question 30

Define ‘rotation’

Answer 30

movement of a structure around its long axis

Question 31

For each of the diagrams on the document, state the type of anatomical movement in the direction.

Answer 31

see document for answers