Directional Terms. Flashcards
What is posterior?
Toward the back of the body.
What is anterior?
Toward the front of the body.
What is dorsal?
Toward the back of the body or back side.
What is ventral?
Toward the front of the body or anterior ( front ) side.
What is superior?
Toward the head.
What is inferior?
Toward the feet.
What is cephalic?
Toward the head.
What is caudal?
Toward the feet.
What is medial?
Toward the middle. ( midline )
What is lateral?
Toward the side or away from the middle.
What is sagittal?
A plane that divides the body into left & right sides. Not necessarily equal sides.
What is mid-sagittal?
A plane that divides the body into equal left & right sides.
What is coronal?
A plane that separates the front from the back of the body. Also called the frontal plane.
What is transverse?
A plane that separates the body into a top & bottom part. Also called the axial plane. ( horizontal slice )
What is proximal?
Near the point of attachment or midline.
What is distal?
Farthest from the point of attachment or midline. ( has more distance )
What is abduct?
To move away from the body.
What is adduct?
To move toward the body.
What is the anatomical position?
To stand erect with arms to the sides with palms facing anteriorly.
What is flex?
To tighten a muscle by contraction, or to bend.
What is extend?
To stretch out to the full length.
What is epi-?
It means above.
What is hypo-?
It means below.
What is hyper-?
It means above.
