Basic Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

anatomical position

Answer 1

(1) head, eyes, & toes directed anteriorly, (2) upp limbs are by sides of body w/ palms facing anteriorly, (3) lower limbs are together w/ toes facing anteriorly

Question 2

superior

Answer 2

toward head

Question 3

inferior

Answer 3

toward feet

Question 4

anterior (ventral)

Answer 4

front

Question 5

posterior (dorsal)

Answer 5

back

Question 6

medial

Answer 6

toward midline

Question 7

lateral

Answer 7

farther from midline

Question 8

ipsilateral

Answer 8

on same side of body

Question 9

contralateral

Answer 9

on opposite side of body

Question 10

proximal

Answer 10

closer to some point of reference

Question 11

distal

Answer 11

farther from some point of reference

Question 12

superficial

Answer 12

toward surface of body

Question 13

deep

Answer 13

away from surface of body

Question 14

sagittal plane

Answer 14

vertical plane which divides body/organ into right & left sides

Question 15

midsagittal plane

Answer 15

equal right & left halves

Question 16

parasagittal plane

Answer 16

unequal right & left halves

Question 17

frontal (coronal) plane

Answer 17

divides body/organ into anterior & posterior portions

Question 18

transverse (horizontal, cross-section) plane

Answer 18

divides body/organ into superior & inferior portions

Question 19

flexion

Answer 19

decreases angle b/n bones

Question 20

extension

Answer 20

increases angle b/n bones

Question 21

abduction

Answer 21

movement of limbs away from body (fingers or toes - spreading of these structures)

Question 22

adduction

Answer 22

movement of limbs toward body (fingers or toes - drawing together of these structures)

Question 23

circumduction

Answer 23

circular movement that’s a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, & adduction; occurs in such a way that the distal end of the part moves in a circle

Question 24

rotation

Answer 24

involves turning or revolving a part of the body around its longitudinal axis (e.g. turning the head to the side)

Question 25

medial rotation

Answer 25

turns anterior surface of a limb closer to the median plane

Question 26

lateral rotation

Answer 26

turns the anterior surface of a limb away from the median plane

Question 27

supination

Answer 27

lateral rotation of forearm so palm faces anteriorly

Question 28

pronation

Answer 28

medial rotation of forearm so palm faces posteriorly

Question 29

protraction (protrusion)

Answer 29

movement of a body part forward (anteriorly) (e.g. protraction of mandible, sticking chin out)

Question 30

retraction (retrusion)

Answer 30

movement of a body part backward (posteriorly)

Question 31

elevation

Answer 31

raises a body part superiorly

Question 32

depression

Answer 32

lowers a body part inferiorly

Question 33

eversion

Answer 33

turns sole of foot laterally

Question 34

inversion

Answer 34

turns sole of foot medially

Question 35

head

Answer 35

cephalic

Question 36

neck

Answer 36

cervical

Question 37

armpit

Answer 37

axilla

Question 38

arm

Answer 38

brachium, brachial

Question 39

forearm

Answer 39

antebrachium, antebrachial

Question 40

elbow region

Answer 40

cubital region

Question 41

front of elbow

Answer 41

antecubital region

Question 42

wrist

Answer 42

carpus

Question 43

thigh

Answer 43

femoral region

Question 44

leg

Answer 44

crural region

Question 45

anterior knee

Answer 45

patellar region

Question 46

posterior knee

Answer 46

popliteal region

Question 47

ankle

Answer 47

tarsal, tarsus

Question 48

foot

Answer 48

pedis

Question 49

chest

Answer 49

thorax

Question 50

trunk

Answer 50

abdomen, pelvis

Question 51

groin

Answer 51

inguinal region

Question 52

back

Answer 52

dorsal region

Question 53

loin

Answer 53

lumbar region

Question 54

buttock

Answer 54

gluteal region

Question 55

calf

Answer 55

sural region

Question 56

sole of foot

Answer 56

plantar region

Question 57

heel of foot

Answer 57

calcaneal region, calcaneus