Introduction to Clinical Language Flashcards
Anterior and posterior
- Anterior: nearer to the front of the body
- Posterior: nearer to the back of the body
Medial and lateral
- Medial: nearer to the midline
- Lateral: further from the midline
Superior/cranial and inferior/caudal
- Superior/cranial: nearer to the top of the head
- Inferior/caudal: nearer to the soles of the feet
Proximal and distal
- Proximal: nearer to the attachment of the limb from the body
- Distal: further from the attachment of the limb to the body
Superficial and deep
- Superficial: nearer to the surface of the body
- Deep: further from the surface of the body
External or internal
- External: further from the centre of body/organ
- Internal: nearer to the centre of the body/organ
Major and minor
Relatively larger and smaller structures with the same names
Terms of laterality
Unilateral
structure normally found on one side of body
Terms of laterality
Bilateral
normally paired structures; a right and a left
Terms of laterality
Midline
single structure located at/near midline
Terms of laterality
Ipsilateral
structure lies on the same side of the body as the other structure/location it is being compared to
Terms of laterality
Contralateral
structure lies on the opposite side of the body as the other structure/location it is being compared to
Terms of movement
Flexion and Extension
- Flexion: decreasing the angle between the bones at a joint
- Extension: increasing the angle between the bones at a joint
Terms of movement
Abduction and Adduction
- Abduction: movement away from the median plane
- Adduction: movement towards the median plane
Terms of movement
Internal (medial) rotation and External (lateral) rotation
- Internal (medial) rotation: anterior surface of a limb rotates towards the median plane
- External (lateral) rotation: anterior surface of a limb rotates away from the median plane
Terms of movement
Circumduction
Circumduction: circular movement at a joint
Anatomical planes
Sagittal plane
a vertical line which divides the body into a left section and a right section
Anatomical planes
Coronal plane
a vertical line which divides the body into a front (anterior) section and back (posterior) section
Anatomical planes
Transverse plane
a horizontal line which divides the body into an upper (superior) section and a lower (inferior) section
Specific terms of movement:
Ankle
- Dorsiflexion: dorsal surface of the foot moves superiorly
- Plantar flexion: plantar surface of the foot moves inferiorly
Specific terms of movement:
Foot
- Eversion: sole of the foot rotates away from the median plane such that the sole faces laterally
- Inversion: sole of the foot rotates towards the median plane so that the sole faces medially
Specific terms of movement:
Forearm
- Pronation: anterior surface of the forearm rotates such that the palm of the hand faces posteriorly (internal rotation)
- Supination: forearm rotates from the pronated position back into the anatomical position
- Semi-prone: the position of the hand and forearm halfway between the supine and prone positions
Lateral flexion of spine
movement of spine to side (right or left)
Elevation and Depression of shoulders
Elevation (superior movement) and depression (inferior movement) of the shoulders
Protraction and Retraction
Protraction (anterior movement) and retraction (posterior movement) of the jaw/shoulders
label
left to right
abduction (taking thumb anteriorly away from palm)
adduction (“adding” thumb back to palm after abduction)
extension (taking thumb laterally away from palm)
flexion (folding thumb across palm)
opposition of thumb with digits
reposition of thumb after opposition with digits
Dorsal Surfaces
- posterior surface of wrist,
- posterior surface of hand
- superior surface of tongue
- superior surface of foot
volar
anterior surface of wrist
palmar
anterior surface of hand
ventral
inferior surface of tongue
plantar
inferior surface of foot
Name and identify the following planes
