HSBN 402: Anatomy - Basic Concepts & Movement Terminology

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from the HSBN 402 Anatomy lecture introducing course overview, directional terminology, anatomical planes, axes, and joint motions.

Anatomical Position

A standardized stance defined by standing upright, head and eyes directed forward, upper limbs at the sides with elbows extended and forearms supinated, palms facing anteriorly with thumbs directed laterally, and lower limbs parallel with feet flat and directed anteriorly.

Anterior

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior

Toward the back of the body.

Superior

Toward the head.

Inferior

Toward the feet.

Proximal

Closer to the trunk or point of attachment.

Distal

Farther from the trunk or point of attachment.

Medial

Closer to the median plane.

Lateral

Farther from the median plane.

Superficial

Nearer to the surface of the body.

Intermediate

Between a superficial and a deep structure.

Deep

Farther from the surface of the body.

Unilateral

Occurring on one side of the body.

Bilateral

Occurring on both sides of the body.

Ipsilateral

On the same side as another structure.

Contralateral

On the opposite side from another structure.

Sagittal Plane

A cardinal plane that divides the body into right and left portions; primary motions are flexion and extension.

Median Plane

A specific sagittal plane that splits the body into equal left and right halves.

Frontal Plane

Also known as the coronal plane, it divides the body into anterior and posterior portions; primary motions are abduction and adduction.

Transverse Plane

Also known as the horizontal plane, it divides the body into superior and inferior portions; primary motion is rotation.

Medial-Lateral Axis

The axis perpendicular to the sagittal plane around which flexion and extension occur.

Anterior-Posterior Axis

The axis perpendicular to the frontal plane around which abduction and adduction occur.

Superior-Inferior Axis

The axis perpendicular to the transverse plane around which rotational movement occurs.

Longitudinal Section

An anatomical cut made along the long axis of a structure.

Oblique Section

An anatomical cut made at an angle to the long axis of a structure.

Transverse Section

An anatomical cut made perpendicular to the long axis of a structure.

Flexion

Bending or decreasing the angle between the bones or part of the body.

Extension

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

Abduction

Moving away from the median plane (referencing the 3rd digit for fingers and 2nd digit for toes).

Adduction

Moving towards the median plane.

Internal Rotation

Also called medial rotation; rotation of a bone toward the body's median plane.

External Rotation

Also called lateral rotation; rotation of a bone away from the body's median plane.

Inversion

A frontal plane movement that moves the sole of the foot toward the median plane.

Eversion

A frontal plane movement that moves the sole of the foot away from the median plane.

Plantarflexion

A sagittal plane motion that bends the foot and toes toward the ground.

Dorsiflexion

A sagittal plane motion that bends the foot and toes towards the sky.

Pronation (Forearm)

A transverse plane movement occurring along a superior-inferior axis that rotates the radius medially so that the palm faces posteriorly and its dorsum faces anteriorly.

Supination (Forearm)

A transverse plane movement occurring along a superior-inferior axis that rotates the radius laterally, uncrossing it from the ulna and returning the pronated forearm to anatomical position.

Opposition

An oblique plane movement at the 1st carpometacarpal joint by which the pad of the 1st digit (thumb) is brought to another digit pad.

Reposition

Movement of the 1st digit (thumb) from the position of opposition back to its anatomical position.

Anatomical Variation

Differences in size, shape, number, course, attachment, or branching among individuals that follow recognizable patterns and are not automatically pathological.