Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

Define the anatomical position

Answer 1

Face forward
Eyes and toes in same direction
Arms by sides, palms forwards
Legs together, feet parallel
Penis erect if male

Question 2

Define the Saggital plane

Answer 2

Slices body into left and right

Question 3

Define the Transverse plane

Answer 3

Slices body into top and bottom (superior and inferior)

Question 4

Define the Coronal plane

Answer 4

Slices body into front and back (anterior and posterior)

Question 5

Define lateral and medial. Give examples

Answer 5

Lateral = sits further away from saggital plane e.g. eyes are lateral to the nose
Medial = sits closer to saggital plane e.g. heart is medial to the lungs

Question 6

Define superior and inferior. Give examples

Answer 6

Superior = sits closer to the head e.g. pelvis is superior to the patella
Inferior = sits further away from the head e.g. mouth is inferior to the nose

Question 7

Define anterior and posterior. Give examples

Answer 7

Anterior = sits closer to the front of the body e.g. heart is anterior to spinal cord
Posterior = sits closer to the back of the body e.g. colon is posterior to bladder

Question 8

Define superficial and deep. Give examples

Answer 8

Superficial = sits closer to the surface e.g. muscles of the arm are superficial to the humerus
Deep = sits further from the surface e.g. the lungs are deep to the ribs

Question 9

Define distal and proximal. Give examples

Answer 9

Distal = sits further form the point of attachment/trunk e.g. the wrist is distal too the elbow
Proximal = sits closer to the point of attachment/trunk e.g. the knee is proximal to the foot

Question 10

Define ipsilateral and contralateral. Give examples

Answer 10

Ipsilateral = structures located on the same side of the body e.g. the right lung and the right kidney are ipsilateral
Contralateral = structures located on opposite sides of the body e.g the right and left arms are contralateral

Question 11

Define extension and flexion. Give examples on upper and lower limbs

Answer 11

Extension = increases the angle between two body parts at a joint in the saggital plane
Flexion = decreases the angle between two body parts at a joint in the saggital plane
Upper limb: extension at elbow brings forearm away from arm; flexion at elbow brings forearm towards arm, anteriorly
Lower limb: extension at knee straightens the lower limb;
flexion at knee brings leg towards thigh, posteriorly

Question 12

Define abduction and adduction

Answer 12

Abduction = movement away from midline in coronal plane
Adduction = movement towards midline in coronal plane

Question 13

Define medial and lateral rotation

Answer 13

Medial rotation = movement towards midline in transverse plane
Lateral rotation = movement away from midline in transverse plane

Question 14

Define circumduction and where it happens

Answer 14

A combination of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction to rotate a joint in a circular motion. Occurs at wrist, ankle

Question 15

Define prone and supine positions and what can do this movement

Answer 15

Prone = facing the ground
Supine = facing the sky
Forearm and whole body only

Question 16

Define opposition and reposition of thumb

Answer 16

Opposition = thumb towards 5th digit (little finger)
Reposition = thumb towards natural position, away from 5th digit

Question 17

Define dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of ankle

Answer 17

Dorsiflexion = movement of foot towards shin region, superiorly
Plantarflexion = movement of foot away from shin region, inferiorly

Question 18

Define eversion and inversion of ankle

Answer 18

Eversion = movement of foot away from saggital plane

Inversion of ankle = movement of foot towards saggital plane