Terminology for anatomy and movement

Question 1

What are the planes of the body?

Answer 1

1. Sagittal (median) plane: Vertical plane dividing the body into left and right halves
2. Coronal (frontal) plane: Vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts
3. Transverse (horizontal) plane: Horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior parts

Question 2

The head is ……………. to the neck

Answer 2

Superior

Question 3

The thumb is ……………. to the little finger

Answer 3

Lateral

Question 4

The heel is ……………. to the toes

Answer 4

Posterior

Question 5

The vertebral column is ……………. to the shoulder joint

Answer 5

Medial

Question 6

The ears are ……………. and ……………. to the nose

Answer 6

Lateral and posterior

Question 7

The hips are ……………. to the shoulders

Answer 7

Inferior

Question 8

The hand is ……………. to the elbow

Answer 8

Distal

Question 9

The shoulder joint is ……………. to the elbow

Answer 9

Proximal

Question 10

What does superficial mean?

Answer 10

Towards the surface of the body

Question 11

What does deep mean?

Answer 11

Towards the interior of the body

Question 12

What does internal mean?

Answer 12

Within a body cavity

Question 13

What does external mean?

Answer 13

Outside a body cavity

Question 14

What does ipsilateral mean?

Answer 14

On the same side

Question 15

What does contralateral mean?

Answer 15

On the opposite side

Question 16

What is a gliding movement?

Answer 16

A translational movement of 2 bones with no angular change in their position which can occur in any direction and is typically small e.g. between the tarsal bones

Question 17

What is flexion?

Answer 17

• Movement in the sagittal plane
• Moving together of 2 anterior/posterior surfaces

e.g. bending the leg backwards (calf → hamstring) or bending the elbow upwards

Question 18

What is extension?

Answer 18

• Movement in the sagittal plane
• Moving apart of 2 anterior/posterior surfaces

Question 19

What is dorsiflexion?

Answer 19

Bringing the top of the foot (dorsum) closer to the anterior surface of the leg

Question 20

What is plantarflexion?

Answer 20

Moving the top of the foot (dorsum) away from the anterior surface of the leg

Question 21

What is abduction?

Answer 21

• Movement in the coronal plane
• Moving away from the midline of the body

Question 22

What is adduction?

Answer 22

• Movement in the coronal plane
• Moving towards the midline of the body

Question 23

What is medial and lateral rotation?

Answer 23

Rotation of a limb segment about it’s long axis towards (medial) or away (lateral) from the midline of the body

Question 24

What is supination?

Answer 24

Movement about the long axis of the forearm so that the palm faces forward (anatomical position) or superiorly (w elbow flexed)

Question 25

What is pronation?

Answer 25

Movement about the long axis of the forearm of that the palm faces posteriorly (anatomical position) or inferiorly (w elbow flexed)

Question 26

What is eversion?

Answer 26

Movement about the ankle making the sole of the foot face outwards (laterally)

Question 27

What is inversion?

Answer 27

Movement about the ankle making the sole of the foot face inwards (medially)