Module 2: Directional Terminology

Question 1

Anterior

Answer 1

toward the front of the body (e.g., toes are anterior to the heel

Question 2

Posterior

Answer 2

toward the back of the body (e.g., the spine is posterior to the collarbone)

Question 3

Medial

Answer 3

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)

Question 4

Lateral

Answer 4

away from the midline of the body (e.g., a backhand tennis return moves the arm laterally away from the body)

Question 5

Superficial

Answer 5

toward the surface of the body (e.g., skin is superficial to subcutaneous fat)

Question 6

Deep

Answer 6

inside the body, away from the surface (e.g., the intestines are deep relative to the skin)

Question 7

Adduction (movement)

Answer 7

toward the midline of the body (e.g., lowering the arms towards the legs from a position of them outstretched to the side)

Question 8

Abduction (movement)

Answer 8

away from the midline of the body (e.g., raising arms up to horizontal from a starting position beside the legs)

Question 9

Flexion

Answer 9

movement that decreases the angle between body parts (e.g., bending forward at the waste flexes the abdominal muscles)

Question 10

Extension

Answer 10

movement that increases the angle between body parts (e.g., going from a seated position to a standing position extends the knees)

Question 11

Plantar flexion

Answer 11

increase angle between lower leg and foot (e.g., women who wear high-heeled shoes are in a constant state of plantar flexion)

Question 12

Dorsi flexion

Answer 12

decrease the angle between the lower leg and foot (e.g., walking on the heels of the feet result in the feet being dorsiflexed)

Question 13

Elevation

Answer 13

movement in the superior direction (e.g., when shrugging your shoulders, the shoulder blades - or scapula - elevate)

Question 14

Depression

Answer 14

movement in the inferior direction (e.g., when lowering your shoulders, the scapulas depress)

Question 15

Medial rotation (internal rotation)

Answer 15

rotation toward the middle of the body (e.g., someone who is “knock-kneed” has medial rotation of the upper leg - or femur)

Question 16

Lateral rotation (external rotation)

Answer 16

rotation away from the midline of the body (e.g., the leg is externally rotated if the feet are turned outward from the body)

Question 17

Unilateral

Answer 17

movement occurring on one side of the body (e.g., lifting just one arm)

Question 18

Bilateral

Answer 18

movement occurring on both sides of the body (e.g., lifting both arms)

Question 19

Ipsilateral

Answer 19

on the same side as another structure (e.g., when lifting the right arm, it is ipsilateral to the right leg)

Question 20

Contralateral

Answer 20

on the opposite side of another structure (e.g., when lifting the right arm, it is contralateral to the left leg)

Question 21

Varus

Answer 21

outward angle of bone or joint (e.g., bowlegged)

Question 22

Valgus

Answer 22

inward angle of bone or joint (e.g., knock-kneed)

Question 23

Protraction (anteriorly)

Answer 23

moves forward (e.g., shoulders that are rounded to the front of the body are in a state of protraction)

Question 24

Retraction (posteriorly)

Answer 24

moves backward (e.g., squeezing the shoulders blades together results in retraction of the shoulder blades)

Question 25

Proximal

Answer 25

point of attachment, closer to the center of the body (e.g., the femur is proximal to the tibia)

Question 26

Distal

Answer 26

away from the point of attachment, farther from the center of the body (e.g., the tibia is distal to the femur)

Question 27

Prone

Answer 27

facing downward (e.g., when people lie on their stomach, they are in the prone position)

Question 28

Supine

Answer 28

facing upward (e.g., when people lie on their back, they are in the supine position)

Question 29

Inversion

Answer 29

turning inward (e.g., when the sole of the foot is facing medially, the foot is inverted)

Question 30

Eversion

Answer 30

turning outward (e.g., when the sole of the foot is facing laterally, the foot is everted)

Question 31

Rotation

Answer 31

circular motion around a fixed point (e.g., turning - or rotating - the torso in transverse plane while in an upright, standing position)

Question 32

Circumduction

Answer 32

the combination of abduction, adduction, flexion and extension (e.g., moving a limb in a circular motion)

Question 33

Superior

Answer 33

close to the head (e.g., the torso is superior to the legs)

Question 34

Inferior

Answer 34

further away from the head (e.g., the feet are inferior to the knees)

Question 35

ROM

Answer 35

Range of Motion