ATU Ozark PTA Program PTA Summer Jump Start Packet

Comprehensive flashcards covering anatomical terminology, body regions, joint motions, planes, axes, muscle types, contractions, forces, and medical prefixes/suffixes from the PTA Summer Jump Start Packet.

Anatomical Position

The standardized reference position for the body: standing upright, feet facing forward, eyes looking straight ahead, arms at sides, palms facing forward, and thumbs pointing away from the body.

Superior

Toward the head or above another structure.

Inferior

Toward the feet or below another structure.

Cranial/Cephalad

A structure closer to the head.

Caudal

A structure closer to the tail.

Anterior (Ventral)

The front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

The back of the body.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the trunk.

Distal

Farther from the trunk.

Superficial

Near the surface.

Deep

Farther beneath the surface.

Ipsilateral

Located on the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Located on the opposite side of the body.

Bilateral

Relating to both sides of the body.

Supine

The anterior surface of the body faces up; lying on the back.

Prone

The posterior surface of the body faces down; lying on the stomach.

Cranial (Region)

The head.

Cervical

The neck.

Thoracic

The chest.

Lumbar

The low back.

Sacral

The sacrum.

Abdominal

The abdomen.

Pelvic

The pelvis.

Gluteal

The buttocks.

Clavicular

The collarbone.

Scapular

The shoulder blade.

Axillary

The armpit.

Brachial

The upper arm.

Antebrachial

The forearm.

Carpal

The wrist.

Olecranon

The elbow.

Manual

The hand.

Femoral

The thigh.

Patellar

The front of the knee or knee cap.

Popliteal

The back of the knee.

Crural

The lower leg.

Tarsal

The ankle.

Pedal

The foot.

Flexion

A motion that decreases the angle between body segments.

Extension

A motion that increases the angle between body segments.

Hyperextension

Extension reaching beyond the anatomical position.

Abduction

Movement away from the midline.

Adduction

Movement toward the midline.

Horizontal Abduction

A shoulder movement where the arm is abducted to $90$ degrees and moves laterally.

Horizontal Adduction

A shoulder movement where the arm is abducted to $90$ degrees and moves medially.

Radial Deviation

The hand moves laterally, or toward the radial/thumb side of the hand.

Ulnar Deviation

The hand moves medially, or toward the ulnar/little finger side of the hand.

Lateral Flexion

When the spine bends to the side.

Medial (Internal) Rotation

The anterior surface of a limb rotates toward the midline.

Lateral (External) Rotation

The anterior surface of a limb rotates away from the midline.

Circumduction

A circular motion combining flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction, with rotation.

Pronation

A position or movement where the palm is oriented posteriorly.

Supination

A position or movement where the palm is oriented anteriorly.

Dorsiflexion

A movement where the toes are pointed up.

Plantarflexion

A movement where the toes are pointed down.

Inversion

A movement where the sole of the foot faces medially.

Eversion

A movement where the sole of the foot faces laterally.

Opposition

The pad of the thumb faces the pads of the other four fingers.

Reposition

The movement that returns the thumb to anatomical position.

Scapular Protraction

Movement of the scapula laterally along the posterior chest wall.

Scapular Retraction

Movement of the scapula medially along the posterior chest wall.

Scapular Elevation

Movement of the scapula superiorly along the posterior chest wall.

Scapular Depression

Movement of the scapula inferiorly along the posterior chest wall.

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body into left and right sides; motion occurs around the frontal axis.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Divides the body into front and back; motion occurs around the sagittal axis.

Transverse Plane

Divides the body into upper and lower parts; motion occurs around the vertical axis.

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary muscle tissue that attaches to bones to produce movement.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary muscle tissue that produces heart contractions.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary muscle tissue that regulates the activity of blood vessels and organs.

Isometric Contraction

The muscle contracts but no movement occurs.

Concentric Contraction

The muscle shortens while producing force.

Eccentric Contraction

The muscle lengthens while producing force.

Traction

Joint distraction; the joint surfaces pull apart from one another.

Compression

Joint approximation; the joint surfaces are pushed closer together.

Shear

A gliding motion where joint surfaces move parallel to one another.

Bending

Force applied away from the central axis, resulting in compression on one side and traction on the other.

Torsion

Twisting force within a structure.

Hinge Joint

A synovial joint shape with $1$ axis of motion, such as the knee.

Ball-and-Socket Joint

A synovial joint shape with $3$ axes of motion, such as the shoulder.

Pivot Joint

A synovial joint shape with $1$ axis of motion, such as the radioulnar joint.

Condyloid Joint

A synovial joint shape with $2$ axes of motion, such as the wrist joint.

Saddle Joint

A synovial joint shape with $3$ axes of motion, such as the thumb joint.

Plane/Gliding Joint

A synovial joint shape with $0$ axes of motion, such as the carpal bones.

Hyper-

Medical prefix meaning excessive.

Hypo-

Medical prefix meaning below normal.

Uni-

Medical prefix meaning one.

Bi-

Medical prefix meaning two.

Poly-

Medical prefix meaning many.

Intra-

Medical prefix meaning within.

Inter-

Medical prefix meaning between.

Sub-

Medical prefix meaning below.

Supra-

Medical prefix meaning above.

-itis

Medical suffix meaning inflammation.

-algia

Medical suffix meaning pain.

-ectomy

Medical suffix meaning removal.

-osis

Medical suffix meaning an abnormal condition.

-pathy

Medical suffix meaning disease.

-plasty

Medical suffix meaning surgical repair or reconstruction.