Anatomy Terminology Flashcards
What are the features of the standard anatomical position?
- standing erect
- eyes facing forward
- palms facing forward
- head facing forward
- arms by sides
- feet together and toes directed forward
What are other anatomical positions?
- Supine position; person lying on back with face and toes upwards. (used in anterior dissections)
- Prone position; person is horizontal facing downwards (used for back dissections)
How are anatomical directions described?
According to the patients left and rights
Define superior/cranial
towards top of head/towards head
Define inferior/caudal
towards soles of feet/towards tailbone
Define anterior/ventral
Towards front of body/towards belly
Define posterior/dorsal
Towards back of body/towards back
Define medial
Closer to the midline of the body
Define lateral
Further away from the midline
Define proximal
closer to point of attatchment
Define distal
further from point of attatchment
Define superficial/external
Closer to surface/outer surface
Define deep/internal
further from surface/inner surface
What is the importance of standard anatomical positions?
- Allows a shared method of communication
- Makes things clearer, so less time lost and is more efficient
What types of sections are there?
- Longitudinal sections; tissue cut along long direction of organ
- Tranverse section; tissue cut perpendicular to length of organ
- Oblique section; tissue cut at angle between cross and longitudinal sections
What are the anatomical planes?
- Median/midsagittal planes
- Frontal/coronal
- Transverse/horizontal
What is the median plane/midsagittal plane?
Imaginary plane going through centre of the body, splitting it into equal left and right halves.
What is the parasagittal plane?
Splits into left and right but does not go through the centre.
What is the frontal/coronal plane?
Vertical plane which divides body into anterior and posterior positions.
What is the transverse/horizontal plane?
Divides body into superior and inferior sections
What is flexion?
Bending or decreasing angle between bones and parts of body
What is extension?
Movement when angle between bones and parts of body increases.
What is abduction?
Moves away from the midline
What is adduction?
Moves towards midline
What is circumduction?
Flexion, abduction, extension and adduction combined in sequence (basically movement in circle).
What are the names for the surfaces of the hands?
Palmar = front Dorsal = back
What are the names for the surfaces of the feet?
Plantar = sole Dorsal = front
What is the names for movements at the ankle?
Extension is dorsiflexion
Flexion is plantarflexion
