Anatomical Terms

Question 1

What does ‘Medial’ mean?

Answer 1

In the centre

Question 2

What does ‘Lateral’ mean?

Answer 2

Away from the centre, to a side

Question 3

What does ‘Superficial’ mean?

Answer 3

On the surface

Question 4

What does ‘Deep’ mean?

Answer 4

On the inside, past the surface

Question 5

What is the opposite of deep?

Answer 5

Superficial

Question 6

What does ‘Proximal’ mean?

Answer 6

Closer to the centre mass of the body or other point of reference

Question 7

What does ‘Distal’ mean?

Answer 7

Further from the centre mass of the body or other point of reference

Question 8

What does ‘Anterior’ mean?

Answer 8

Towards the front

Question 9

What does ‘Posterior’ mean?

Answer 9

Towards the back

Question 10

What does ‘Rostral’ mean?

Answer 10

Towards the face (different to towards the head)

Question 11

What does ‘Plantar’ mean?

Answer 11

On the sole of the feet

Question 12

What does ‘Palmar’ mean?

Answer 12

On the palm of the hand

Question 13

What does ‘Superior’ mean?

Answer 13

Towards the head end/ bigger/ above

Question 14

What does ‘Inferior’ mean?

Answer 14

Towards the feet end/ smaller/ below

Question 15

What does ‘Cranial’ mean?

Answer 15

Towards the head

Question 16

What does ‘Caudal’ mean?

Answer 16

Towards the bottom of the feet (posterior, inferior)

Question 17

What does ‘Volar’ mean?

Answer 17

On the underside of the palms or feet

Question 18

What does ‘Dorsal’ mean?

Answer 18

On the back (except in reference to the head)

Question 19

What does ‘Ventral’ mean?

Answer 19

On the front (except in reference to the head)

Question 20

What does ‘Lateral Flexion’ mean?

Answer 20

Movement of the head or trunk laterally away from the midline. Abduction of spine

Question 21

What does ‘Reduction’ mean?

Answer 21

Return of spine to medial position from lateral flexion. Adduction of spine

Question 22

What does ‘Ulnar Deviation’ mean?

Answer 22

Adduction movement at wrist of little finger side of hand towards forearm

Question 23

What does ‘Radial Deviation’ mean?

Answer 23

Abduction movement of thumb side of hand towards forearm

Question 24

What does ‘Elevation’ mean?

Answer 24

Moving a part superiorly (like shrugging shoulders)

Question 25

What does 'Relations' mean?

Answer 25

Relative to another part

Question 26

What does 'Flexion' mean?

Answer 26

Bending at a joint as to decrease the angle

Question 27

What does 'Extension' mean?

Answer 27

Bending at a joint to straighten the joint

Question 28

What does 'Circumduction' mean?

Answer 28

Moving in a circular motion, combining multiple different movements

Question 29

What does 'Depression' mean?

Answer 29

Moving a part inferiorly (like bringing shrugged shoulders back down)

Question 30

What does 'Abduction' mean?

Answer 30

Movement away from the midline. In hands and feet use their own midlines

Question 31

What does 'Adduction' mean?

Answer 31

Movement towards the midline. In hands and feet use their own midlines

Question 32

What does 'Opposition' mean?

Answer 32

Movement of the thumb around towards the fingers

Question 33

What does 'Reposition' mean?

Answer 33

Movement of the thumb away from the fingers to anatomical position

Question 34

What does 'Inversion' mean?

Answer 34

Turning sole of foot inward, or medially.

Question 35

What does 'Eversion' mean?

Answer 35

Turning sole of foot outward

Question 36

What does 'Rotation' mean?

Answer 36

To turn on its own axis.

Question 37

What does 'Protraction' mean?

Answer 37

To move into a more anterior position than normal

Question 38

What does 'Retraction' mean?

Answer 38

To move into a more posterior position than normal

Question 39

What does 'Dorsiflexion' mean?

Answer 39

Elevating the foot so the toes point up

Question 40

What does 'Plantarflexion' mean?

Answer 40

Lowering the foot so the toes point down

Question 41

What does 'The Anatomical Position' mean?

Answer 41

Standing upright with the head, eyes and toes directed anteriorly, arms adjacent to thesides with the palms facing anteriorly, and the lower limbs close together with the feet parallel

Question 42

Why do we have 'The Anatomical Position'?

Answer 42

All anatomical descriptions are expressed in relation to one consistentposition, ensuring that descriptions are not ambiguous.

Question 43

What does 'Median' mean?

Answer 43

The vertical plane passing longitudinally through the body, divides the body into right andleft halves. This defines the midline of the head, neck, and trunk where it intersects the surface ofthe body.

Question 44

What does 'Sagittal' mean?

Answer 44

Vertical planes passing through the body parallel to the median plane.

Question 45

What does 'Frontal/ Coronal' mean?

Answer 45

Vertical planes passing through the body at right angles to the median plane,dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Question 46

What is used interchangeably with 'median'?

Answer 46

Midline

Question 47

What does 'Transverse' mean?

Answer 47

Horizontal planes passing through the body at right angles to the median and frontalplanes, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts.

Question 48

What does 'Axial' mean?

Answer 48

The same as transverse, except transverse will be oblique/ diagonal on limbs.