Intro to anatomy Flashcards
Anatomical position
Standing upright. Head and feet directed forwards. Arm adjacent to side with palms facing forward. Legs close together with feet parallel. Penis erect
Median plane
A vertical plane passing through the middle of the body dividing it into right and left halves.
Sagittal plane
Vertical planes which are parallel to the median plane
Paramedian plane
A plane parallel and near the median plane
Transverse plane
Horizontal planes that pass through the body at a right angle to the median and frontal plane, dividing the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower parts)
Regional anatomy
Considers the body organised into segments and parts
Systemic anatomy
Body as organised in organ systems
Surface anatomy
information about structures that can be observed or palpated
Radiographic, sectional and endoscopic anatomy
Appreciation of structures in living people as its affected by muscle tone, body fluid, pressure and gravity
Superior
direction nearest the top of the body
Cranial
towards the head
Inferior
direction towards sole of feet
Caudal
Towards feet
Rostral
Used instead of anterior when describing parts of the brain
Posterior (dorsal)
towards back of the body
Anterior (ventral)
towards the front of the body
Medial
Near the median plane of the body
Lateral
Location farthest away from the median plane
Superficial, intermediate, deep
the position of structures relative to the surface of the body i.e. skin is superficial, muscles are intermediate, bone is deep.
External
Farther away from the centre of an organ or cavity, independent of direction
Internal
Closer to the centre of an organ or cavity, independent of direction
Proximal and distal
When contrasting positions nearer to or farther from the attachment of a limb or the central aspect of a linear structure, E.g. The fingers are distal to the wrist, which is distal to the elbow, which is distal to the shoulder.
Dorsum
The superior aspect of any body part that protrudes from the body, such as the dorsum of the foot. It is also used to describe the posterior surface of the hand, opposite the palm.
Unilateral
One side
Bilateral
Two sides
Ipsilateral
Same side of the body
Contralateral
Opposite sides of the body
Flexion
Bending or decreasing the angle between parts of the body
Extension
Straightening or increasing the angle between parts of the body
Dorsiflexion
Flexing of the ankle joint i.e. walking uphill
Plantarflexion
Bending foot and toe towards the ground, i.e. standing on your toes
Elevation
Moving a body part in the superior direction
Deppresion
Moving a body part in the inferior direction
Eversion
Rotating the ankle so that the sole of the foot points away from the other
Inversion
Rotating the ankle so the sole of the foot points towards the other.
Abduction
Moving a limb away from the medial line, for fingers this would mean spreading them apart
Adduction
Moving a limb towards the centre line of the body, for fingers and toes this would mean bringing the spread of digits together
Pronation
Rotating the forearm so that the palm faces down if the forearm is flexed. Means lowering the medial margin of the foot i.e. flat feet
Supination
Rotating the forearm so that the palm faces up if the forearm is flexed. Means raising the medial margin of the foot
Refraction
Posterior movement of the arm at the shoulder, towards the back of the body
Protraction
Anterior movement, towards the front of the body, of the arm at the shoulder
Lateral flexion
Bending the spine to the side away from the medial line of the body
Opposition
moving the pad of your thumb towards another digit
Reposition
Moving your thumb from opposition to its normal position.
Protusion
Movement of chin, lips and tongue forwards
Retrusion
Movement backwards of chin, lips and tongues
Circumduction
Circular movement involves sequential flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction.
Rotation
Moving a part of the body around its longitudinal axis, medial rotation brings the limb closer to the median plane and lateral (external) rotation takes it away
