Anatomical terms and joints

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical positions, movements, skeletal features, muscle mechanics, levers, and joint classifications from the lecture notes.

Anatomical position

Standard body stance used for reference: standing upright, facing forward, feet together, arms at sides, palms facing anteriorly.

Sagittal plane

Imaginary vertical plane dividing the body into left and right portions.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Plane dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

Horizontal (transverse) plane

Plane running parallel to the ground, separating superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts.

Anterior (ventral)

Toward or at the front of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward or at the back of the body.

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head or a higher position.

Inferior (caudal)

Away from the head or a lower position.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment, origin, or trunk.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment, origin, or trunk.

Superficial (external)

Near or on the body surface.

Deep (internal)

Further beneath the body surface than superficial structures.

Flexion

Movement that decreases the joint angle; occurs in the sagittal plane.

Extension

Movement that increases the joint angle; opposite of flexion.

Abduction

Movement of a limb away from the body’s midline; occurs in the frontal plane.

Adduction

Movement of a limb toward the body’s midline; opposite of abduction.

Rotation

Pivoting of a body part around its long axis; occurs in the horizontal plane.

Pronation

Forearm movement turning the palm downward.

Supination

Forearm movement turning the palm upward; opposite of pronation.

Inversion

Turning the sole of the foot inward at the ankle.

Eversion

Turning the sole of the foot outward at the ankle; opposite of inversion.

Dorsiflexion

Ankle movement lifting the toes upward.

Plantarflexion

Ankle movement pointing the toes downward; opposite of dorsiflexion.

Protraction

Movement of the scapula away from the vertebral column.

Retraction

Movement of the scapula toward the vertebral column.

Axial skeleton

Skeleton of skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage.

Appendicular skeleton

Skeleton of upper and lower limbs plus shoulder and pelvic girdles.

Process (bone)

Any projection or bump on a bone.

Ramus

Bone extension forming an angle with the rest of the structure.

Trochanter

Large, rough projection for muscle attachment (found on femur).

Tuberosity

Relatively smaller rough projection for tendon/ligament attachment.

Tubercle

Small rounded projection on a bone.

Crest

Prominent ridge on a bone.

Line (bone)

Low ridge on a bone.

Spine (bone)

Pointed process on a bone.

Head (bone)

Expanded articular end of an epiphysis, separated by a neck.

Neck (bone)

Narrow connection between head (epiphysis) and shaft (diaphysis).

Condyle

Smooth, rounded articular process.

Trochlea

Smooth, grooved pulley-shaped articular process.

Facet

Small, flat articular surface.

Fossa

Shallow depression in a bone.

Sulcus

Narrow groove on a bone surface.

Foramen

Rounded opening for nerves or blood vessels.

Fissure

Elongated cleft in a bone.

Canal

Passageway through a bone.

Sinus (antrum)

Chamber within a bone, normally air-filled.

Origin (muscle)

Attachment site of a muscle that is less moveable or more proximal.

Insertion (muscle)

Attachment site of a muscle that is more moveable or more distal.

Prime mover (agonist)

Muscle chiefly responsible for a specific movement.

Antagonist

Muscle that opposes the action of an agonist and must relax during the movement.

Synergist

Muscle that assists the prime mover.

Fixator

Muscle that stabilises the origin bone by reducing unnecessary movement.

Tendon

Collagenous band connecting muscle to bone.

Ligament

Dense collagenous tissue connecting bone to bone.

Lever

Rigid structure (e.g., bone) that moves on a fulcrum (joint) to transmit force.

First-class lever

Lever with fulcrum between applied force and resistance; can change force direction and speed.

Second-class lever

Lever with resistance between applied force and fulcrum; increases force at expense of speed/distance.

Third-class lever

Lever with applied force between resistance and fulcrum; increases speed/distance but needs more force.

Synarthrosis

Immovable joint (e.g., skull suture, gomphosis).

Amphiarthrosis

Slightly movable joint (e.g., symphysis, syndesmosis).

Diarthrosis

Freely movable synovial joint.

Syndesmosis

Fibrous amphiarthrosis with ligamentous connection (e.g., interosseous membrane).

Symphysis

Cartilaginous amphiarthrosis with fibrocartilage pad (e.g., pubic symphysis).

Synostosis

Bony fusion where joint converts to bone (e.g., epiphyseal line).

Synovial fluid

Viscous fluid within synovial joints that lubricates, nourishes cartilage, and absorbs shock.

Joint capsule

Dense connective tissue envelope surrounding a synovial joint.

Gliding (planar) joint

Synovial joint with flat surfaces permitting slight sliding movements.

Hinge joint

Monoaxial synovial joint allowing flexion and extension (e.g., elbow).

Pivot joint

Monoaxial synovial joint permitting rotation (e.g., atlas-axis).

Ellipsoidal (condyloid) joint

Biaxial synovial joint with an oval surface fitting into a depression (e.g., wrist).

Saddle joint

Biaxial joint with concave-convex surfaces resembling a saddle (e.g., thumb base).

Ball-and-socket joint

Triaxial synovial joint with rounded head in cup-like socket (e.g., hip, shoulder).

Meniscus

Fibrocartilaginous pad inside some joints that subdivides cavity and guides movement.

Bursa

Small synovial-lined sac reducing friction between tissues.

Intracapsular ligament

Ligament located inside the joint capsule.

Extracapsular ligament

Ligament located outside the joint capsule.

Tendon sheath

Tubular bursa surrounding a tendon where it crosses bony surfaces, reducing friction.