BL Session 3 - Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

Describe anatomical position

Answer 1

• Standing in upright position
• Eyes forward
• Feet parallel and close together
• Arms at the sides of the body
• Palms facing forward

Question 2

Define medial.

Answer 2

Refers to a location/position toward the midline

Question 3

Define lateral.

Answer 3

Refers to a location/position farther from the midline

Question 4

Define anterior.

Answer 4

Refers to the front of the body / a position closer to the front
Synonym: ventral (animals

Question 5

Define posterior.

Answer 5

Refers to the back of the body / to a position more toward the back.
Synonym: dorsal (animals)

Question 6

Define distal.

Answer 6

• Used to describe locations on the extremities

- Refers to a position / location away from the trunk

Question 7

Define proximal.

Answer 7

• Used to describe locations on the extremities

- Refers to a position / location toward the trunk

Question 8

Define superior.

Answer 8

• Indicates the location of a body part that is above another
• Refers to the upper surface of an organ / structure

Question 9

Define inferior.

Answer 9

• Indicates a body part below another

- Refers to the lower surface of an organ or a structure

Question 10

Define superficial and deep.

Answer 10

• Relative term
• Refers to depth
  E.g. The epidermis is superficial to the dermis

Question 11

Define supine.

Answer 11

• Describes the body position while lying flat.

- When supine, the person is lying straight, with the face / anterior surface pointed upward.

Question 12

Define prone.

Answer 12

• Describes the body position while lying flat.

- When prone, the person is horizontal, with the face / anterior surface pointed down.

Question 13

Define bilateral.

Answer 13

Refers to two, both, sides.

Question 14

Define contralateral.

Answer 14

Refers to the opposite side of the body.

Question 15

Define ipsilateral.

Answer 15

Refers to the same side of the body

Question 16

Mention the segments of the body.

Answer 16

• Upper extremity (arm, forearm, hand)
• Lower extremity (thigh, leg, foot)
• The trunk (thorax and abdomen)
• The neck (cervical vertebrae)
• The head (skull)

Question 17

Describe flexion.

Answer 17

• The bending movement of one bone on another, bring two segments together.
• Causes a decrease in the joint angle

Question 18

Describe extension.

Answer 18

• Opposite to flexion, it is the straightening movement of one bone away from another
• Increases the joint angle
• The motion usually returns the body part to anatomical position after it has been flexed

Question 19

Describe hyperextension.

Answer 19

The continuation of extension beyond anatomical position.

Question 20

Define dorsiflexion.

Answer 20

Extension at the wrist and ankle joints

Question 21

Define palmar flexion.

Answer 21

Flexion at the wrist.

Question 22

Define plantar flexion.

Answer 22

Flexion at the ankle.

Question 23

Define abduction.

Answer 23

Movement away from the midline of the body.

Question 24

Define adduction.

Answer 24

Movement toward the midline.

Question 25

Define radial and ulnar deviation.

Answer 25

Terms used to refer wrist abduction and adduction.

Question 26

Describe circumduction.

Answer 26

• The motion that describes a circular, cone-shaped pattern.

- Usually by the arms.

Question 27

Define medial rotation

Answer 27

• Aka internal rotation

- Rotation is movement of a bone or part around its longitudinal axis

Question 28

Define lateral rotation.

Answer 28

• Aka external rotation

- Rotation is movement of a bone or part around its longitudinal axis.

Question 29

Define supination.

Answer 29

Rotation of the forearm back to anatomical position.

Question 30

Define pronation.

Answer 30

Rotation of the forearm away from anatomical position.

Question 31

Define inversion.

Answer 31

Moving the sole of the foot inward at the ankle

Question 32

Define eversion.

Answer 32

Moving the sole of the foot outward at the ankle

Question 33

Define protraction.

Answer 33

A mostly linear movement alone a plane parallel to the ground, away from the midline.

Question 34

Define retraction.

Answer 34

A mostly linear movement alone a plane parallel to the ground, toward the midline.

Question 35

What is the coronal plane?

Answer 35

The plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Question 36

What is the sagittal plane?

Answer 36

The plane that divides the body into left and right parts.

Question 37

What is the transverse plane?

Answer 37

The plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts.