Body Surfaces, Parts, Relationship, and Movement Terms

posterior (dorsal) vs anterior (ventral)

posterior = back of body

anterior = front of body

plantar vs. dorsal (foot)

plantar: towards bottom of foot

dorsal: toward top of foot

palmar vs dorsal (hand)

palmar = front of the hand/anterior surface

dorsal = back of the hand/posterior surface

medial vs lateral

Medial = toward midline

Lateral = away from midline.

proximal vs distal

proximal = toward or nearest the trunk of the body or nearest the point of origin on one of its parts

distal = away from or farthest from the trunk or the point of origin of a body part

cephalad vs. caudad

cephalad = toward the head

caudad = away from the head

abduction vs adduction

Abduction - away from midline

Adduction - towards midline

Interior/internal vs. Exterior/external

interior/internal = inside

exterior/external = outside

Ipsilateral vs. Contralateral

ipsilateral: same side

contralateral: opposite side

Superior vs. Inferior

Superior: above

Inferior: below

Superficial vs. Deep

superficial = nearer the surface

deep = farther away from the body surface

flexion vs extension

Flexion: decrease angle

Extension: increase angle

supine vs prone

supine: face up

prone: face down

inversion vs eversion

inversion: moving the sole of the foot inward at the ankle

eversion: moving the sole of the foot outward at the ankle

Circumduction

circular movement of a limb at the far end

medial rotation vs lateral rotation

medial rotation: rotation toward the midline

lateral rotation: rotation away from the midline

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