Directional Terms, Body Planes, Motion

Medial

Towards middle of the body

Lateral

Towards the sides of the body

Anterior

Towards the front (ventral)

Posterior

Towards the back (dorsal)

Dorsal

Feet and hands, refers to the top of the foot and back of hand

Palmar

palm of the hand

Plantar

sole of foot/bottom of the foot

Superior

above or towards the skull, cranial/cephalo

Inferior

below or towards the foot, caudal

Proximal

closer to the trunk

Distal

farther from the trunk

Superficial

closer to the surface of the body

Deep

away from the surface of the body

Transverse Plane

horizontal plane, divides body into top and bottom, top view of body

Sagital Plane

Vertical, divides body into right and left, side view of body

Frontal Plane

Coronal plane, divides body into front and back, front view of the body

Flexion

decreasing the angle of the joint, bending at the joint

Extension

increasing angle of the joint, straightening at the joint

Dorsiflexion

shortening ankle joint (decreasing angle)

Plantarflexion

straightening ankle joint (increasing angle)

Elevation

moving a body part in the superior direction

Depression

moving a body part in the inferior direction

Eversion

Moving the sole of the foot away from the body

Inversion

Moving the sole of the foot medially (towards the body)

Abduction

move away from the medial line of the body

Adduction

move toward the medial line of the body

Internal Rotation

rotate limb towards the medial line of the body

External Rotation

rotate limb away from the medial line of the body

Pronation

rotating forearm palm down

Supination

rotating forearm, palm up

Protraction

move anteriorly

Retraction

move posteriorly

Lateral Flexion

bringing the spine to the side, away from the center line of the body