Planes, Positions And Movements

Question 1

Anatomical position

Answer 1

The position of the body in which anatomy is discussed. It refers to the position where the body is stood upright, facing the observer with upper limbs at the body sides and palms facing forwards

Question 2

Excursion

Answer 2

Lateral excursion is the movement of the mandible away from the median plane, left or right. Medial excursion is the movement back to the midsagittal plane.

Question 3

Opposition

Answer 3

Movement of the pad of the thumb digit to touch another digit pad

Question 4

Reposition

Answer 4

Movement of the thumb from the pad of another digit back to the anatomical position

Question 5

Eversion

Answer 5

Moving the sole of the foot away from the median plane, moving the sole laterally

Question 6

Inversion

Answer 6

Moving the sole of the foot towards the median plane, moving it medially

Question 7

Supination

Answer 7

Rotating the radius laterally so that the palmar surface is anterior. If the elbow is flexed, then the palm is superior. It returns the forearm to the anatomical position

Question 8

Pronation

Answer 8

Rotating the radius medially so that the palmar surface is posterior. If the elbow is flexed, then the palms will be inferior.

Question 9

Depression

Answer 9

Lowers a part of the body inferiorly.

Question 10

Elevation

Answer 10

Raising a part of the body superiorly

Question 11

Plantar Flexion

Answer 11

Flexion at the ankle joint that points the toes downwards

Question 12

Dorsiflexion

Answer 12

Flexion at the ankle joint which raises the toes causing the toes to be superior to the heel

Question 13

Retrusion

Answer 13

Movement of the mandible, lips or tongue posteriorly

Question 14

Retraction

Answer 14

Movement of the shoulders posteriorly

Question 15

Protrusion

Answer 15

Movement of the mandible, lips or tongue anteriorly.

Question 16

Protraction

Answer 16

Movement of the shoulders anteriorly

Question 17

Circumduction

Answer 17

The sequential combination of flexion, abduction, extension and adduction (or in the opposite order) causing the distal part of the body to move in a circular motion.

Question 18

Lateral/External Rotation

Answer 18

Rotation around the longitudinal axis that takes the anterior surface away from the median plane

Question 19

Medial/Internal Rotation

Answer 19

Rotation around the longitudinal axis that brings the anterior surface towards the median plane.

Question 20

Adduction

Answer 20

Movement of the body towards the median plane. In digits, it is where the digits are brought together, e.g. closer to the centre of the hand

Question 21

Abduction

Answer 21

Movement of the body away from the median plane. In digits, it is where the digits are spread apart, e.g. away from the centre of the hand

Question 22

Extension

Answer 22

Straightening or increasing the angle between bones or part of the body

Question 23

Flexion

Answer 23

Bending or decreasing the angle between bones or part of the body. Usually anterior except the knee joint where it is posterior.

Question 24

Palmar/Plantar surface

Answer 24

The anterior surface of the hand (the palm). The plantar surface is the inferior surface of the foot (sole)

Question 25

Dorsal surface

Answer 25

The posterior surface of the hand or the superior surface of the foot.

Question 26

Dorsal

Answer 26

Denotes the back surface of the body, or closer to the back

Question 27

Ventral

Answer 27

Denotes the front surface of the body

Question 28

Posterior

Answer 28

Describes what is at the back of something. From the Latin post

Question 29

Anterior

Answer 29

Describes what is in front of something. From the Latin Ante

Question 30

Contralateral

Answer 30

Two things that are at opposite sides eg the left thumb is contralateral to the right thumb

Question 31

Ipsilateral

Answer 31

Two things that are at the same side to eachother e.g. the left thumb is ipsilateral with the left toe

Question 32

Bilateral

Answer 32

Refers to both sides of the body or having one on each side e.g. the kidneys are bilateral

Question 33

Unilateral

Answer 33

Referring to only one side or only affecting one side e.g. the liver is unilateral

Question 34

Lateral

Answer 34

Something that is further away from the median than something else

Question 35

Medial

Answer 35

Moving closer to the median line, or that something is closer to the median than another part of the body

Question 36

Distal

Answer 36

Describes a part of the body that is further away from the trunk/point of origin or the attachment of a limb

Question 37

Proximal

Answer 37

Describes a part of the body that is closer to the trunk/point of origin or the attachment of a limb

Question 38

Inferior

Answer 38

Describes something that is lower and closer to the soles of the feet. From the Latin inferus

Question 39

Superior

Answer 39

Describes what is above something and is closer to the vertex of the cranium. From the Latin super

Question 40

Oblique

Answer 40

Describes any cut that is not along one of the anatomical planes

Question 41

Median/Midsagittal Plane

Answer 41

The vertical plane that is perpendicular to the transverse plane, that divides the body into two equal halves

Question 42

Sagittal Plane

Answer 42

The vertical plane that divides the body into left and right that is parallel to the median plane

Question 43

Horizontal Plane

Answer 43

The plane that separates the body into the inferior and the superior. Sometimes referred to as the axial plane

Question 44

Transverse Plane

Answer 44

The horizontal plane that separates the body into the cranial and caudal portions - the inferior and the superior

Question 45

Coronal Plane

Answer 45

The vertical plane perpendicular to the transverse plane, that separates the body into two equal halves, the anterior and the posterior.

Question 46

Frontal Plane

Answer 46

The vertical plane that is perpendicular to the transverse plane that separates the body into two equal halves, the ventral and the dorsal.