Anatomical Planes & Movement

Midline/Sagittal Plane

Plane dividing body into left and right

Lateral

Towards the center of the sagittal plane

Medial

Towards the outside of the sagittal plane

Midaxillary Line/Frontal Plane

Line/plane dividing the body in the front and back

Anterior

Towards the front of the midaxillary line

Posterior

Towards the back of the midaxillary line

Transverse Plane

Plane dividing body into top and bottom at the trunk

Superior

Towards the top of the transverse plane

Inferior

Towards the bottom of the transverse plane

Proximal

Closer to the torse

Distal

Further from the torso

Flexion

Decreasing the angle between two bones at a joint

Extension

Increasing the angle between two bones at a joint

Adduction

Moving a limb towards the midline

Abduction

Moving a limb away from the midline

Rotation

Turning around the vertical axis of a bone

Pronation

Rotating a bone medially from another

Supination

Rotating a bone laterally from another bone