Movement & Position

Question 1

Abduction

Answer 1

Movement away from the midline.

Question 2

Adduction

Answer 2

Movement toward the midline

Question 3

Anterior

Answer 3

Towards the front.

Question 4

Apex

Answer 4

Tip of a structure.

Question 5

Base

Answer 5

Lower part or point of origination of a structure.

Question 6

Caudal

Answer 6

Towards the feet (tail in animals).

Question 7

Cephalad

Answer 7

Towards the head.

Question 8

Circumduction

Answer 8

In a circular manner.

Combination of flexion, extension, ad- and abduction.

Occurs at synovial joints.

Question 9

Deep

Answer 9

Towards the inside of the body.

Opposite of superficial.

Question 10

Distal

Answer 10

Away from the midline, or other reference.

Question 11

Dorsal

Answer 11

Towards the back.

Posterior.

Question 12

Dorsiflexion

Answer 12

Movement of foot to bend backward/upward
toward the lower leg.

Foot points more superiorly.

Rarely used to describe hand. Dorsum of hand is the posterior surface, so movement is called extension.

Question 13

Extension

Answer 13

Straightening joint,

moving attachments farther apart.

Question 14

External

Answer 14

Away from the midline.

As in external rotation (arm bent 90° and moving forearm outward).

Question 15

Flexion

Answer 15

Bending joint to bring parts closer together.

Question 16

Inferior

Answer 16

Below.

Question 17

Internal

Answer 17

Towards the midline (in the transverse plane).

As in internal rotation.

Question 18

Lateral

Answer 18

Towards the side.

Away from the midline.

Question 19

Mid-axillary

Answer 19

Line through the axilla,
parallel to the long axis,
midway between the ventral and dorsal surfaces.

Question 20

Mid-clavicular

Answer 20

Line passing through midpoint of the clavicle,
parallel to the long axis,
along the ventral surface.

Question 21

Medial

Answer 21

Toward the midline or middle.

Question 22

Midline

Answer 22

Vertical division into left and right sides.

Question 23

Palmar

Answer 23

Relating to the palm of the hand.

Question 24

Peripheral

Answer 24

Towards the side or edge.

Question 25

Plantar

Answer 25

Related to the bottom surface of the foot.

Question 26

Plantarflexion

Answer 26

Flexion of the foot towards the plantar surface.

Opposite of dorsiflexion.

Question 27

Posterior

Answer 27

Rear or back.

Question 28

Pronation

Answer 28

Movement of the foot or hand
at the ankle or wrist
in the frontal plane
away from the midline.

Question 29

Prone

Answer 29

Lying on the ventral surface of the body.

Question 30

Protraction

Answer 30

Forward projection of something
in the transverse plane
toward the anterior.

e. g. Shoulders in SOB tripoding.
e. g. Mandible in jaw lift.

Question 31

Proximal

Answer 31

Near midline or other reference.

Question 32

Retraction

Answer 32

Opposite of Protraction.

Question 33

Rotation

Answer 33

Movement about the longitudinal axis
in the transverse plane.

e.g. External rotation = rotation away from midline.

Question 34

Superficial

Answer 34

Near the outer surface of the body.

Question 35

Superior

Answer 35

Above.

Question 36

Supination

Answer 36

Opposite of pronation.

Movement (twisting) of foot or hand
at the ankle or wrist
in the frontal plane
away from the midline.

(Causing exterior surface and tarsals
to contact ground first.)

Question 37

Supine

Answer 37

On the spine.

Lying on the dorsal surface
(posterior aspect) of the body.

Question 38

Torso

Answer 38

Thoracic segment +
Abdominal segment +
Perineum

The “trunk” of the body.

Question 39

Ventral

Answer 39

Toward the front (anterior).