Positions

Question 1

What’s the Anatomical Position and what are the four specifics that describe it?

Answer 1

The point of reference for movement

1. standing
2. feet parallel
3. arms hanging at the sides, palms forward, fingers pointing straight at the floor
4. face directed forwards

Question 2

superior

Answer 2

(abbr. sup.) - refers to a structure that is closer to the head or higher than another structure
(aka cranial)
eg: nose is superior to mouth

Question 3

inferior

Answer 3

(abbr. inf.) - refers to a structure that is closer to the feet or the lower part of the body than another structure.
(aka caudal)
eg: feet inferior to knees; wrist inferior to elbow

Question 4

anterior

Answer 4

(abbr. ant.) - refers to a structure that is more ‘in front’ than another structure
(aka ventral, palmar, volar)
eg: abdomen is anterior to spine; palm is anterior to knuckles (regardless of which way hand is pointed)

Question 5

posterior

Answer 5

(abbr. post.) - refers to a structure that is more ‘in back’ than another structure
(aka dorsal/dorsum)
eg: heart is posterior to breastbone

Question 6

medial

Answer 6

refers to a structure thjat is closer to the mid-sagittal plane (mid line of the body) than another structure
eg: heart is medial to shoulders

Question 7

lateral

Answer 7

refers to a structure that is farther away from the mid-sagittal plane (mid line of the body) than another structure
eg: eye is lateral to bridge of nose

Question 8

proximal

Answer 8

refers to a structure that is closest to its source - primarily used in reference to the limbs (refers to a structure that is closer to the root of the limb than another structure in the limb)
eg: wrist is proximal to fingers

Question 9

distal

Answer 9

refers to a structure that is farther away from its source - primarily used in reference to the limbs (refers to a structure that is farther away from the root of the limb than another structure in the limb)
eg: knee is distal to thigh; wrist is distal to elbow

Question 10

superficial

Answer 10

refers to a structure that is closer to the surface of the body
eg: skin is superficial to the muscle

Question 11

deep

Answer 11

refers to a structure that is farther from the surface of the body
eg: bones deep to muscle

Question 12

ipsilateral

Answer 12

refers to the same side as the reference point

eg: muscle on right side of neck pull my head to right would be an ipsilateral movement

Question 13

contralateral

Answer 13

refers to the opposite side as the reference point

eg: muscle on right side of neck pushes my head to left would be a contralateral movement