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)
Types of axis
Sagittal, frontal, vertical & horizontal
Knee extension axis & plane
frontal axis with movement on sagittal plane
Hip Abduction axis & plane
Sagittal axis with movement on a frontal
Flexion
The bending of an adjacent body part in a sagittal plane so that two anterior / posterior surfaces are brought together.
Example of Flexion
Moving your arm from a relaxed position (by your side) up so your palm faces your shoulder. This is elbow flexion.
Extension
The moving apart of two opposing surfaces in a sagittal plane
Extension example
Moving your palm away from your shoulder into a relaxed position (by your side). This is elbow extension.
Plantarflexion
Moving the dorsum (top) of the foot away from the anterior surface of the leg
Toes point down
Dorsiflexion
Moving the dorsum (top) of the foot towards the anterior surface of the leg
Toes point up
Abduction
Body segment moves in a frontal plane away from the midline of the body
Occurs around a sagittal axis
eg. moving arms to T-Pose
Adduction
Body segment moves in a frontal plane towards the midline of the body
Eg. Moving arms back to sides from a T-Pose position
Lateral flexion
Trunk bends to one side (left or right)
Eg. left ear to left shoulder
Medial rotation
Limb segment rotates about its longitudinal axis so the anterior surface faces the midline of the body
Eg. whole right leg turns to the left to face the midline
Lateral rotation
Limb segment rotates about its longitudinal axis so the anterior surface faces away from the midline body
Eg. whole right leg turns to the right to face away from the midline
Supination
Forearm moves so that the palm of the hands faces forward - palms on knees to facing upwards
Sole of the forefoot faces medially - as if to “high foot” yourself
Pronation
Forearm moves so palms face downwards - palms face upwards to on knees
Sole of forefoot faces laterally -
Inversion
Movement of whole foot so sole faces medially (supination & adduction of forefoot)
Eversion
Movement of whole foot so sole faces laterally (pronation & abduction of forefoot)
Facet
small flat articulating surface
Notch
Indentation
Fossa
Shallow depression
Tuberosity
Small rounded prominence
Tendon & ligament attachment site
Eminence
projection
Ramus
branch of bone
Condyle
Rounded projection that articulates with another bone
Epicondyle
Rounded eminence on a condyle
A place of attachment
