Anatomical Position and Movement Terms

Anatomical Position

In which the person is standing erect, facing forward, and the palms of the hand also face forward.

Anterior

Front surface of the body

Posterior

Back side of the body

Superior

Above another structure

Inferior

Below another structure

Medial

Pertaining to the middle

Lateral

Pertaining to the side

Ipsilateral

Same side of the body

Contralateral

Opposite side of the body

Proximal

Near the point of attachment to the trunk

Distal

Farther away from the point of attachment to the trunk

Apex

Tip or summit of an organ

Base

Bottom of the organ

Deep

Away from the surface

Superficial

On the surface

Prone

Lying on the belly

Supine

Lying the back

Flexion

Bending the joint; Occurs in the sagittal plane

Extension

Straightening the joint; Occurs in the sagittal plane

Abduction

Moving away from the median plane; occurs in the coronal plane

Adduction

Moving toward the medial plane; occurs in the coronal plane

Lateral Flexion

Used to describe the movement of the spine; occurs in the coronal plane

Supination

Movement of the forearm where the palm faces upward

Pronation

Movement of the forearm where the palm faces backward

Protraction

Moving toward the front (anteriorly)

Retraction

Moving toward the back (posteriorly)

Elevation

Upward Movement

Depression

Downward Movement