Anatomical terminology Flashcards
What is the ‘anatomical position?’
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
In the DR, cadavers are lying down. When the body is laid down, it may be supine or prone. What is the difference?
supine - lying facing upwards
prone - lysing facing downwards
What are ‘anatomical planes?’
imaginary lines that pass through the body in different directions
Define ‘coronal (frontal)’
plane at a right angle to the midsagittal plane that divides body & organs into anterior and posterior portions
Define ‘sagittal’
the x-z plane that divides the body into 2 equal/unequal halves;
it can be midsagittal or parasagittal
Define ‘mid-sagittal (median)’
a vertical plane through midline of the body that divides the body & organs into inferior and superior portions
Define ‘transverse’ (termed axial in radiology)
plane that divides the body & organs into superior and inferior portions
Define ‘midclavicular line’
pair of vertical lines that pass halfway through the body of the clavicle
Define ‘midaxillary line’
coronal line on the torso between anterior and posterior axillary lines
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
see document
On a figure of a stick, person draw arrows to indicate regions that are:
a) superior
b) medial
c) lateral
d) inferior
see document
Define ‘anterior/ventral’
nearer to the front of the body
Define ‘posterior/dorsal’
nearer to the back of the body
Define ‘superior (cranial)’
toward the head or upper part of a structure
Define ‘inferior (caudal)’
away from the head or lower part of a structure
Define ‘superficial’
toward/on the surface of the body
Define ‘deep’
away from the surface of the body
Define ‘medial’
nearer to the midline of the body
Define ‘lateral’
farther from the midline of the body
Define ‘proximal’
nearer to the point of attachment of a limb to a trunk
Define ‘distal’
farther from the point of attachment of a limb to a trunk
Define ‘ipsilateral’
on the same side of the body as another structure
Define ‘contralateral’
on the opposite side of the body as another structure
How can anatomical directions be combined?
for example, a structure being inferomedial or superolateral to something else
Most of the time, what are anatomical terms used to describe movements of?
limbs
Define ‘abduction’
hint: 1 d and to abduct is to lift upwards
movement of a limb in the coronal plane
away from the sagittal plane
Define ‘adduction’
hint: 2ds and the opposite of abduction
movement of a limb in the coronal plane
towards the sagittal plane
Define ‘flexion’
hint: flexing takes work
Bending movement in the sagittal plane (this can be applied to the trunk and neck as well as the limbs)
decreasing the angle
Define ‘extension’
hint: to extend is to make bigger
Straightening movement in the sagittal plane (this can be applied to the trunk and neck as well as the limbs)
increasing the angle
Define ‘rotation’
movement of a structure around its long axis
For each of the diagrams on the document, state the type of anatomical movement in the direction.
see document for answers
