Directional Terms and Movements Flashcards
Anterior
Front
Posterior
Back
Superior
Upper or Above
Inferior
Lower or Below
Lateral
To the side
Medial
Nearer the midline
Distal
Away from attachment
Proximal
Nearest the attachment
Anatomical Position
- Upright, standing position, head, eyes, and toe facing forward
- Feet together, arms slightly out to the side
- Forearms fully supinated
Flexion
Reducing the joint angle between 2 bones
Extension
Increasing the joint angle between 2 bones
Abduction
Moving the body segment AWAY from the body
Adduction
Moving body segment TOWARDS the body
Supination
Rotating wrists so the palm is facing FORWARD
Pronation
Rotating wrist so the palm is facing BACKWARDS
Plantar Flexion
Pointing your toe
Dorsiflexion
Bring your toes up toward the top of your foot
Inversion
Standing on the outer edge of the foot
Eversion
Standing on the inner edge of the foot
Internal Rotation
Turning a body part TOWARDS the midline
External Rotation
Turing a body part AWAY from the midline
Circumduction
Combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction in one movement
Elevation
Moving in a superior direction
e.g. raising your shoulders
Depression
Moving in an inferior direction
e.g. slouching shoulders/bringing them down
Protraction
Moving in an anterior direction
e.g. bring the chin forward
Retraction
Moving in a posterior direction
e.g. pushing shoulder blades together
Opposition
Thumb coming in contact with any finger
e.g. thumb touching pinky
Reposition
Thumb returning to anatomical position
