Module 2: Directional Terminology Flashcards
Anterior
toward the front of the body (e.g., toes are anterior to the heel
Posterior
toward the back of the body (e.g., the spine is posterior to the collarbone)
Medial
toward the midline of the body (e.g., the arm swing of a baseball player hitting a ball moves medially through the first half of the range of motion)
Lateral
away from the midline of the body (e.g., a backhand tennis return moves the arm laterally away from the body)
Superficial
toward the surface of the body (e.g., skin is superficial to subcutaneous fat)
Deep
inside the body, away from the surface (e.g., the intestines are deep relative to the skin)
Adduction (movement)
toward the midline of the body (e.g., lowering the arms towards the legs from a position of them outstretched to the side)
Abduction (movement)
away from the midline of the body (e.g., raising arms up to horizontal from a starting position beside the legs)
Flexion
movement that decreases the angle between body parts (e.g., bending forward at the waste flexes the abdominal muscles)
Extension
movement that increases the angle between body parts (e.g., going from a seated position to a standing position extends the knees)
Plantar flexion
increase angle between lower leg and foot (e.g., women who wear high-heeled shoes are in a constant state of plantar flexion)
Dorsi flexion
decrease the angle between the lower leg and foot (e.g., walking on the heels of the feet result in the feet being dorsiflexed)
Elevation
movement in the superior direction (e.g., when shrugging your shoulders, the shoulder blades - or scapula - elevate)
Depression
movement in the inferior direction (e.g., when lowering your shoulders, the scapulas depress)
Medial rotation (internal rotation)
rotation toward the middle of the body (e.g., someone who is “knock-kneed” has medial rotation of the upper leg - or femur)
Lateral rotation (external rotation)
rotation away from the midline of the body (e.g., the leg is externally rotated if the feet are turned outward from the body)
Unilateral
movement occurring on one side of the body (e.g., lifting just one arm)
Bilateral
movement occurring on both sides of the body (e.g., lifting both arms)
Ipsilateral
on the same side as another structure (e.g., when lifting the right arm, it is ipsilateral to the right leg)
Contralateral
on the opposite side of another structure (e.g., when lifting the right arm, it is contralateral to the left leg)
Varus
outward angle of bone or joint (e.g., bowlegged)
Valgus
inward angle of bone or joint (e.g., knock-kneed)
Protraction (anteriorly)
moves forward (e.g., shoulders that are rounded to the front of the body are in a state of protraction)
Retraction (posteriorly)
moves backward (e.g., squeezing the shoulders blades together results in retraction of the shoulder blades)
Proximal
point of attachment, closer to the center of the body (e.g., the femur is proximal to the tibia)
Distal
away from the point of attachment, farther from the center of the body (e.g., the tibia is distal to the femur)
Prone
facing downward (e.g., when people lie on their stomach, they are in the prone position)
Supine
facing upward (e.g., when people lie on their back, they are in the supine position)
Inversion
turning inward (e.g., when the sole of the foot is facing medially, the foot is inverted)
Eversion
turning outward (e.g., when the sole of the foot is facing laterally, the foot is everted)
Rotation
circular motion around a fixed point (e.g., turning - or rotating - the torso in transverse plane while in an upright, standing position)
Circumduction
the combination of abduction, adduction, flexion and extension (e.g., moving a limb in a circular motion)
Superior
close to the head (e.g., the torso is superior to the legs)
Inferior
further away from the head (e.g., the feet are inferior to the knees)
ROM
Range of Motion
