PTA Summer Jump Start Packet Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terminology, body regions, motions, planes, muscle types, and forces based on the PTA Summer Jump Start Packet.

Anatomical Position

The standard body position used for all anatomical terminology involving: 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 located closer to the head.

Caudal

A structure located 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 of the body.

Distal

Farther from the trunk of the body.

Superficial

Near the surface of the body.

Deep

Farther beneath the surface of the body.

Ipsilateral

Located on the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Located on the opposite side of the body.

Bilateral

Relating to or affecting 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 (Body Region)

The head.

Cervical (Body Region)

The neck.

Thoracic (Body Region)

The chest.

Lumbar (Body Region)

The low back.

Sacral (Body Region)

The sacrum.

Abdominal (Body Region)

The abdomen.

Pelvic (Body Region)

The pelvis.

Gluteal (Body Region)

The buttocks.

Clavicular (Body Region)

The collarbone.

Scapular (Body Region)

The shoulder blade.

Axillary (Body Region)

The armpit.

Brachial (Body Region)

The upper arm.

Antebrachial (Body Region)

The forearm.

Carpal (Body Region)

The wrist.

Olecranon (Body Region)

The elbow.

Manual (Body Region)

The hand.

Femoral (Body Region)

The thigh.

Patellar (Body Region)

The front of the knee or knee cap.

Popliteal (Body Region)

The back of the knee.

Crural (Body Region)

The lower leg.

Tarsal (Body Region)

The ankle.

Pedal (Body Region)

The foot.

Flexion

A motion that decreases the angle between body segments, such as bending the elbow.

Extension

A motion that increases the angle between body segments, such as straightening the knee.

Hyperextension

Extension that continues beyond the anatomical position.

Abduction

Movement away from the midline, such as raising an arm sideways.

Adduction

Movement toward the midline, such as lowering an arm from an abducted position.

Horizontal Abduction

A motion occurring only at the shoulder where the arm is abducted to $90$ degrees and then moves laterally.

Horizontal Adduction

A motion occurring only at the shoulder where the arm is abducted to $90$ degrees and then moves medially.

Radial Deviation

The hand moves laterally toward the thumb side.

Ulnar Deviation

The hand moves medially toward the little finger side.

Lateral Flexion

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

Moving the hand so the palm is oriented posteriorly (palm down).

Supination

Moving the hand so the palm is oriented anteriorly (palm up).

Dorsiflexion

Pointing the toes upward, as when walking on heels.

Plantarflexion

Pointing the toes downward, as when standing on tiptoes.

Inversion

A motion where the sole of the foot faces medially.

Eversion

A motion where the sole of the foot faces laterally.

Opposition

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

Reposition

The return of the thumb to its anatomical position after opposition.

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, such as shrugging the shoulders.

Scapular Depression

Movement of the scapula inferiorly, such as pushing down on armrests to stand up.

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body into left and right sides; movements include flexion and extension; associated with the Frontal axis.

Frontal axis

The axis around which Sagittal Plane movements occur.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Divides the body into front and back parts; movements include abduction and adduction; associated with the Sagittal axis.

Sagittal axis

The axis around which Frontal Plane movements occur.

Transverse Plane

Divides the body into upper and lower parts; movements include rotation and horizontal abduction/adduction; associated with the Vertical axis.

Vertical axis

The axis around which Transverse Plane movements occur.

Skeletal Muscle

A type of voluntary muscle that attaches to bones to produce movement.

Cardiac Muscle

A type of involuntary muscle that produces heart contractions.

Smooth Muscle

A type of involuntary muscle that regulates the activity of blood vessels and organs.

Isometric Contraction

A contraction where the muscle produces force but no movement occurs.

Concentric Contraction

A contraction where the muscle shortens while producing force.

Eccentric Contraction

A contraction where the muscle lengthens while producing force.

Traction

A joint distraction force where joint surfaces pull apart from one another.

Compression

A joint approximation force where joint surfaces are pushed closer together.

Shear

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

Bending (Force)

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

Torsion

A force that creates twisting within a structure.

Hinge Joint

A joint shape like the knee which moves around $1$ axis.

Ball-and-Socket Joint

A joint shape like the shoulder which moves around $3$ axes.

Pivot Joint

A joint shape like the radioulnar joint which moves around $1$ axis.

Condyloid Joint

A joint shape like the wrist joint which moves around $2$ axes.

Saddle Joint

A joint shape like the thumb joint which moves around $3$ axes.

Plane/Gliding Joint

A joint shape like the carpal bones which moves around $0$ axes.