Positions, Movements, and Planes

Superior

Body part is above another part; example: cranial cavity is superior to thoracic cavity

Inferior

Body part is below another part; example: neck is inferior to the head

Anterior/Ventral

Toward the front; example: eyes are anterior to the brain

Posterior/Dorsal

Toward the back; example: pharynx is posterior to the oral cavity

Medial

Body part is closer to the midline; example: nose is medial to the eyes

Lateral

Body part is away from the midline (toward the side); example: ears are lateral to the eyes

Proximal

Body part is closer to a point of attachment to the trunk; example: elbow is proximal to the wrist

Distal

Body part is farther from the point of attachment to the trunk; example: fingers are distal to the wrist

Peripheral

Parts that are outward or near the surface; example: epidermis is the peripheral layer of skin

Deep

Parts that are more internal; example: dermis is the deep layer of the skin

Sagittal

Divides the body into right and left portions

Transverse (Horizontal)

Divides the body into superior and inferior portions

Frontal (Coronal)

Divides the body into anterior and posterior portions

Flexion

Movement decreasing the angle between bones at a joint

Extension

Movement increasing the angle between bones at a joint

Abduction

Movement of a body part away from the midline

Adduction

Movement of a body part toward the midline

Medial Rotation

Turning of a limb on its longitudinal axis toward the midline

Lateral Rotation

Turning of a limb on its longitudinal axis away from the midline

Supination

Upward or forward rotation of the palm

Pronation

Downward or backward rotation of the palm

Inversion

Turning the plantar surface of the foot inward, toward the midline

Eversion

Turning the plantar surface of the foot outward, away from the midline

Dorsiflexion

Movement at the ankle that brings the foot closer to the shin

Plantar Flexion

Movement at the ankle that moves the foot farther away from the shin