Introduction to Clinical Language

Question 1

Anterior

Answer 1

nearer to the front of the body

Question 2

Posterior

Answer 2

nearer to the back of the body

Question 3

Medial

Answer 3

nearer to the midline

Question 4

Lateral

Answer 4

further from the midline

Question 5

superior/cranial

Answer 5

nearer to the top of the head

Question 6

inferior/caudal

Answer 6

nearer to the soles of the feet

Question 7

Proximal

Answer 7

nearer to the attachement of the limb from the body

Question 8

Distal

Answer 8

Further from the attachment of the limb to the body

Question 9

Superficial

Answer 9

nearer to the surface of the body

Question 10

Deep

Answer 10

Further from the surface of the body

Question 11

External

Answer 11

Further from the centre of body/organ

Question 12

Internal

Answer 12

nearer to the centre of the body/organ

Question 13

Major and minor

Answer 13

Relatively larger and smaller structures with the same name

Question 14

Unilateral

Answer 14

Structure normally found on one side of the body

Question 15

Bilateral

Answer 15

Normally paired structures; a right and a left

Question 16

Midline

Answer 16

Single structure located at/near midline

Question 17

Ipsilateral

Answer 17

Structure lies on the same side of the body as the other structure/location it is being compared to

Question 18

Contralateral

Answer 18

Structure lies on the opposite side of the body as the other structure/location it is being compared to

Question 19

Flexion

Answer 19

Decreasing the angle between the bones at a joint

Question 20

Extension

Answer 20

Increasing the angle between the bones at a joint

Question 21

Abduction

Answer 21

Movement away from the median plane

Question 22

Adduction

Answer 22

Movement towards the median plane

Question 23

Internal (medial) rotation

Answer 23

Anterior surface of a limb rotates towards the median plane

Question 24

External (lateral) rotation

Answer 24

Anterior surface of a limb rotates away from the median plane

Question 25

Circumduction

Answer 25

Circular movement at a joint

Question 26

dorsiflexion (ankle)

Answer 26

Dorsal surface of the foot moves superiorly

Question 27

plantar flexion (ankle)

Answer 27

Plantar surface of the foot moves inferiorly

Question 28

eversion (foot)

Answer 28

sole of the foot rotates away from the median plane such that the sole faces laterally

Question 29

inversion (foot)

Answer 29

sole of the foot rotates towards the median plane so that the sole faces medially

Question 30

pronation (forearm)

Answer 30

anterior surface of the forearm rotates such that the palm of the hand faces posteriorly (internal rotation)

Question 31

supination (forearm)

Answer 31

forearm rotates from the pronated position back into the anatomical position

Question 32

semi-prone (forearm)

Answer 32

the position of the hand and forearm halfway between the supine and prone positions

Question 33

lateral flexion

Answer 33

movement of spine to side (right or left)

Question 34

rotation

Answer 34

of trunk and neck

Question 35

elevation

Answer 35

superior movement of the shoulders

Question 36

depression

Answer 36

inferior movement of the shoulders

Question 37

protraction

Answer 37

anterior movement of the jaw/shoulders

Question 38

retraction

Answer 38

posterior movement of the jaw/shoulders

Question 39

sagittal plane

Answer 39

a vertical line which divides the body into a left section and a right section

Question 40

coronal plane

Answer 40

a vertical line which divides the body into a front (anterior) section and back (posterior) section

Question 41

transverse plane

Answer 41

a horizontal line which divides the body into an upper (superior) section and a lower (inferior) section