Directional Terms Flashcards
Anatomical Position
A standing posture with the arms at the side and the palms of the hands facing forward
Frontal (Coronal) Plane
The plane that separates the body into a front and back
Transverse (Horizontal) Plane
The plane that divides the body into top and bottom halves
Sagittal Plane
A plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves
Anterior
Pertaining to the front of the body
Posterior
Back of the body
Medial
toward the midline of the body
Proximal
Toward the attachment of the limb to the trunk or given site
Distal
Away from the attachment of a limb or given site of reference
Superficial
Close to the body’s surface
Deep
away from the body’s surface
Superior
One point, or structure, being lower than another
Inferior
One point, or structure, being lower than another
Ipsilateral
Situated on the same side
Contralleral
Opposite side
Unilateral
Pertaining to one side
Dorsal
Top surface of the foot
Plantar
Bottom surface of the foot
Volar
Palmar aspect of the wrist and hand (back of the hand)
Palmar
Palm
Extenstion
A straightening movement around a joint to restore it to anatomical position
Abduction
Movement away from the midline of the body
Adduction
Movement toward the midline of the body
Internal (Medial) Rotation
The spinning or turning of a segment toward the midline
External (Lateral) Rotation
The spinning or turning of a segment away from the midline
Supination
A movement that turns the palm of the hand upward
Varus
a laterally directed force or angulation (position) of the joint
Valgus
A medially directed force or angulation (position) of the joint
Active
Something done under own power
Active Assitive
The range of motion through which the athlete can move the limb with the help of the athletic trainer
Passive
Something done under the power of someone else
Hyperextension
Extreme stretching out of a body part (going past normal limit)
Circumduction
The movement of a limb in a circular pattern (the thumb does this)
Eversion
A movement that turns the sole of the foot outward, away from the midline of the body
Inversion
A movement that turns the sole of the foot inward, toward the midline of the body
Prone
Lying on stomach
Supine
Lying on back
Sidelying
Lying on side
Quadriped
On hands and knees
Hook-Lying
Lying on side with knees up
Etiology
Pertaining to the cause of the condition
Sign
Objective evidence that an athletic trainer can measure or sense
Symptom
What the athlete feels
Assessment
A procedure through which an ATC determines the severity, irritability, nature, and stage of the injury
Sprain
injury to a ligament
Strain
An injury that occurs to a muscle or tendon
Asymmetry
A lack of symmetry of sides of the body
Biomechanical
The study of movement of the human body
Proprioception
Awareness of position or movement of the body or a body segment
Kinesiology
The study of human movement (physics of the body)
Palpation
Examination of an area by touch to determine any differences in general presentation
