Functional Anatomy

MOM Vietnam 2025

anterior

toward the front of the body

posterior

toward the back of the body

medial

toward the midline of the body

lateral

away from the midline of the body

superior

toward the head

inferior

away from the head

superficial

toward or on the surface of the body

profundus

away from the surface of the body

proximal

nearer the origin/pint of attachment

distal

away from the origin of the extremity

sagittal plane

diviging the body into left and right halves

frontal/coronal plane

dividing the body into front (anterior) and rear (posterior)

transverse plane

dividing the body into top (superior) and bottom (inferior) halves

abd:

from (away)

add:

toward to

arthro:

joint or articulation

chondro:

cartilage

costal:

rib

medi:

towards the middle

infra:

below

inter:

between

linea:

line

sub:

under

supra:

above

sym:

together

trans:

across or through

itis:

inflammation

brachial:

arm

head

rounded articular projection supported by a neck (head of humerus)

condyle

large, knuckle-like, articular projection (medial condyle of femur)

facet

smooth, flat surface (superior and inferior articulating facets of the vertebrae)

epicondyle

non-articulating; smaller projection above condyle (attachment site for muscles and ligaments; medical epicondyle of femur)

trochanter

blunt projection (only on the femur; greater and lesser trochanters of femur)

tubercle

small knob-like, rounded process (greater tubercle of humerus)

tuberosity

large, often rounded, usually roughened process (attachment spot; tibial tuberosity)

crest

prominent border or ridge (iliac crest)

spine

sharp, slender process (spinous process of a vertebra)

frontal/transverse axis

side to side direction; perpendicular to the sagittal plane

sagittal/anteroposterior axis

front to back direction; perpendicular to the frontal axis

vertical/longitudinal axis

up and down direction; perpendicular to the transverse plane

oblique/diagonal axis

at an angle; perpendicular to the oblique plane

flexion of the knee

angle of the joint becomes smaller

[sagittal plane about frontal axis]

extension of the knee

angle of the joint becomes larger

[sagittal plane about frontal axis]

hyperextension of the knee

extension goes beyond the anatomic reference position

[sagittal plane about frontal axis]

dorsiflexion

ankle or foot movement (raise the forefoot from the ground)

[sagittal plane about frontal exit]

plantar flexion

ankle or foot movement (raise the heel from the ground)

[sagittal plane about a frontal axis]

forward/backward bending

used for trunk movements (bend down and back with lower extremities in vertical position)

[sagittal plane about frontal axis]

nutation/counternutation

used for sacroiliac joint movements (slight irregular motion like nodding in the axis of rotation of a largely axially symmetric object)

[sagittal plane about frontal axis]

abduction of the leg

the distal segment moves away from the midline of the body

[frontal plane about a sagittal axis]

adduction of the leg

the distal segment moves towards from the midline of the body

[frontal plane about a sagittal axis]

lateral flexion

used for neck or trunk movement

[frontal plane about a sagittal axis]

radial deviation/ulna deviation

used for thumb or wrist movements

[frontal plane about a sagittal axis]

inversion

bottom of foot move towards the midline of the body

[frontal plane about a sagittal axis]

eversion

bottom of foot moves away from the midline of the body

[frontal plane about a sagittal axis]

external/lateral rotation

anterior surface of the distal segment moves outward

[transverse plane about a vertical axis]

internal/medical rotation

anterior surface of the distal segment moves inward

[transverse plane about a vertical axis]

abduction

toes or forefoot moves away from the body midline plantarly

[transverse plane about a vertical axis]

adduction

toes or forefoot moves towards the body midline plantarly

[transverse plane about a vertical axis]

axis rotation

neck movements

[transverse plane about a vertical axis]

range of motion

flexibilty measurement

active range of motion

voluntary movement of the joint

passive range of motion

movement being assisted by an externally

Grade 0 Muscle Strength

no contraction or muscle movement

Grade 1 Muscle Strength

trace of contraction, but no movement at the joint

Grade 2 Muscle Strength

movement at the joint with gravity eliminated

Grade 3 Muscle Strength

movement against gravity, but not against added resistence

Grade 4 Muscle Strength

movement against some resistance, but less than normal

Grade 5 Muscle Strength

normal strength