Anatomy terminology Flashcards
The anatomical position
Starting point for orientation: The body standing erect and facing forwards, legs & feet are parallel, feet and toes face forward, arms hang by the side with palms facing forwards and thumbs point laterally
Anterior
To the front / in front
Posterior
To the rear / behind
Superior
Above
Inferior
Below
Lateral
Away from the median plane
Medial
Towards the median plane
Distal
Further away from the trunk / root of the limb
Proximal
Closer to the trunk / root of the limb
Superficial
Closer to the surface of the body / skin
Deep
Further away from the body surface / skin
Planes
Flat surfaces that have 2 dimensions.
Anatomical movement can occur in these planes.
Frontal plane
Passes through the body from the top tot he bottom
At right angles to the sagittal plane
Divides the body into 2 parts - anterior and posterior
Horizontal plane
Passes through body at right angles to the sagittal plane
Divides the body into 2 parts - upper and lower
Sagittal plane
Passes through the body from front to back
Divides body into 2 parts - left and right
Axis
imaginary line around which a body / limb / joint can move
(name correlates to where the “pin” goes not the plane of movement)