Directional and Anatomical terms of movement + planes and axes

Question 1

superior

Answer 1

closer to head
(upper)

Question 2

Inferior

Answer 2

further away from head

Question 3

anterior

Answer 3

towards the front of the body

Question 4

posterior

Answer 4

towards the end of the body

Question 5

anatomical position

Answer 5

stand erect, feet slightly apart and facing forward. arms hanging relaxed sides with palms facing forward

Question 6

medial

Answer 6

towards the midline of the body

Question 7

lateral

Answer 7

away from the midline of the body

Question 8

proximal

Answer 8

closer to the origin of the trunk

Question 9

distal

Answer 9

away from the origin of the trunk

Question 10

superficial

Answer 10

toward the surface of the body

Question 11

deep

Answer 11

inside the body, away form the surface

Question 12

prone

Answer 12

face down, lying position

Question 13

supine

Answer 13

face up, lying position

Question 14

sagittal plane
(median plane)

Answer 14

divides the body vertically into left and right halves

Question 15

frontal plane
(coronal plane)

Answer 15

divides the body vertically into front and back halves

Question 16

transverse plane
(horizontal plane)

Answer 16

separates the body horizontally into top and bottom halves

Question 17

center of gravity

Answer 17

where 3 planes intersect

Question 18

horizontal axis

Answer 18

perpendicular to the sagittal plane
(runs side to side, but movements in front and back)
ex movement: running forward

Question 19

anterior-posterior axis

Answer 19

perpendicular to the frontal plane
(runs front to back, but movements in side to side)
ex. abduction of arm/leg

Question 20

longitudinal axis

Answer 20

perpendicular to the transverse plane (runs up and down, movements are spinning)
ex. twisting your waist sideways, hold adduct your arm medially. external rotation

Question 21

abduction

Answer 21

movement away from the midline

Question 22

adduction

Answer 22

movement toward the midline

Question 23

flexion

Answer 23

bening movement, decreases the angle

Question 24

extension

Answer 24

straightening movement, increases the angle

Question 25

circumduction

Answer 25

circular movement of a limb that resembles a cone, combining flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction

Question 26

diagonal abduction

Answer 26

movement of a limb through a diagonal plane. away form midline

Question 27

diagonal adduction

Answer 27

movement of a limb through a diagonal plane. across the midline

Question 28

external rotation
(lateral rotation)

Answer 28

rotary movement around the longitudinal axis.
away from midline

Question 29

internal rotation
(medial rotation)

Answer 29

rotary movement around the longitudinal axis toward the midline

Question 30

eversion

Answer 30

turning the sole of the foot outward

Question 31

inversion

Answer 31

turning the sole of the foot inward

Question 32

dorsiflexion

Answer 32

flexion of the ankle, foot moving toward the anterior tibia bone

Question 33

plantar flexion

Answer 33

extension of the ankle, on your tippy toes

Question 34

pronation

Answer 34

internal rotation of radius, palm facing down

Question 35

supination

Answer 35

external rotation of radius, palm facing up

Question 36

radial flexion

Answer 36

adduction at wrist of thumb side towards the forearm

Question 37

ulnar flexion

Answer 37

adduction at wrist of little finger side towards the forearm

Question 38

opposition of thumb

Answer 38

movement of thumb across palm surface to contact fingers

Question 39

depression

Answer 39

inferior movement of the shoulder girdle

Question 40

elevation

Answer 40

superior movement of the shoulder girdle

Question 41

protraction
(abduction of scapula)

Answer 41

forward movement of shoulder girdle away from spine

Question 42

retraction
(adduction of scapula)

Answer 42

backward movement of shoulder girdle toward spine

Question 43

rotation downward

Answer 43

rotary movement of scapula with inferior angle of scapula moving medially and downward

Question 44

rotation upward

Answer 44

rotary movement of scapula with inferior angle of scapula moving laterally and upward

Question 45

lateral flexion or abduction of the spine

Answer 45

movement of head or trunk laterally away from midline

Question 46

reduction or adduction of spine

Answer 46

return of spine to anatomical position from lateral flexion