Introduction to clinical language

Question 1

What is Anterior

Answer 1

nearer to the front of the body

Question 2

What is Posterior

Answer 2

nearer to the back of the body

Question 3

What is Medial

Answer 3

Nearer to the midline

Question 4

What is Superior/cranial

Answer 4

nearer to the top of the head

Question 5

What is Inferior/caudal

Answer 5

nearer to the soles of the feet

Question 6

What is proximal

Answer 6

nearer to the attachment of the limb from the body

Question 7

What is distal

Answer 7

further from the attachment of the limb to the body

Question 8

what is superficial

Answer 8

nearer to the surface of the body

Question 9

what is deep

Answer 9

further from the surface of the body

Question 10

what is external

Answer 10

further from the centre of body/organ

Question 11

what is internal

Answer 11

nearer to the centre of the body/organ

Question 12

Major and Minor

Answer 12

Relatively larger and smaller structures with the same names

Question 13

unilateral

Answer 13

structure normally found on one side of body

Question 14

bilateral

Answer 14

normally paired structures; a right and a left

Question 15

midline

Answer 15

single structure located at/near midline

Question 16

ipsilateral

Answer 16

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

Question 17

contralateral

Answer 17

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

Question 18

flexion

Answer 18

decreasing the angle between the bones at a joint

Question 19

extension

Answer 19

increasing the angle between the bones at a joint

Question 20

abduction

Answer 20

movement away from the median plane

Question 21

adduction

Answer 21

movement towards the median plane

Question 22

Internal (medial) rotation

Answer 22

anterior surface of a limb rotates towards the median plane

Question 23

External (lateral) rotation

Answer 23

anterior surface of a limb rotates away from the median plan

Question 24

circumduction

Answer 24

circular movement at a joint

Question 25

dorsiflexion

Answer 25

ankle: dorsal surface of the foot moves superiorly

Question 26

Plantar flexion

Answer 26

ankle: plantar surface of the foot moves inferiorly

Question 27

eversion

Answer 27

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

Question 28

inversion

Answer 28

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

Question 29

pronation

Answer 29

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

Question 30

supination

Answer 30

forearm rotates from the pronated position back into the anatomical position

Question 31

semi-prone

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Lateral flexion

Answer 32

movement of spine to side (right or left)

Question 33

Elevation (superior movement) and

Answer 33

depression (inferior movement) of the shoulders

Question 34

Protraction (anterior movement) and

Answer 34

retraction (posterior movement) of the jaw/shoulders

Question 35

what are the 3 anatomical planes

Answer 35

sagittal, coronal and transverse plane

Question 36

Sagittal plane

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Coronal plane

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Transverse plane

Answer 38

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