Anatomical Terms Flashcards
Anatomical position
Standing erect
Arms by the side
Palms facing forwards
Feet flat on floor
Superior
(cranial, cephalic, rostral) – towards the head
Inferior
(caudal) – towards the feet
Supine
body or structure lies anterior side up
Prone
body or structure lies anterior side down
Movements of pronation and supination of the forearm
involve the ulna and the radius where the radius rotates around the ulna to bring the palm facing upwards (supination) or downwards (pronation)
Lateral
farther from the midline
Proximal
nearer to trunk
Distal
further from trunk
Superficial
toward body surface
Deep
away from body surface
Sagittal plane
a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right sides
Midsagittal plane
a vertical plane that passes through the midline and divides the body into equal right and left halves
Parasagittal plane
a vertical plane that divides the body into unequal right and left halves
Coronal (frontal) plane
a vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions
Horizontal (transverse) plane
a plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions
Abduction
movement away from the axis or midline of the body, or one of its parts
Adduction
movement toward the axis or midline of the body, or one of its parts
Extension
an increase in the angle between two bones; restoring a body part to its anatomical position after flexion
Flexion
a folding movement in which there is a decrease in the angle between two bones
Rotation
movement around a vertical axis (movements of pronation/supination of the forearm)
Eversion
turning the foot so that the sole faces outward or laterally
Inversion
turning the foot so that the sole faces inward or medially
Dorsiflexion
movement of the foot at the ankle joint – flexion
