Applied Anatomy: Directional Terms

anterior

the front half of the body

posterior

the back side of the body

lateral

away from the mid-line of the body

medial

toward the mid-line of the body

superior

higher…closer to the head

inferior

lower…closer to the feet

proximal

closer to the core of the body

distal

away from the core of the body

superficial

closer to the surface of the body

deep

away from the surface of the body

sagittal plane

a boundary between the left and right sides of the body

frontal axis of rotation

an axle that enters the body from the right side and exits from the left side

extension

a motion that occurs within the sagittal plane about the frontal axis od rotation such that the angle formed by the anterior aspects of an articulation increases (angle from joint increases)

flexion

a motion that occurs within the sagittal plane abut the frontal axis of rotation such that the angle formed by the anterior aspects of an articulation decreases (angle from the joint decreases)

frontal plane

a boundary between the anterior and posterior aspecs for the body

anterior-posterior axis of rotation

an axle that enters the body from the anterior aspect and exits from the posterior aspect

abduction

a motion that occurs within the frontal plane about the anterior-posterior axis of rotation such that the distal aspect of an extremity moves away from the midline of the body

adduction

a motion that occurs within the frontal plane about the anterior-posterior axis of rotation such that the distal aspect of an extremity moves toward the midline of the body

transverse plane

a boundary between the superior and inferior aspects of the body

longitudinal axis of rotation

an axle that enters the body from the inferior aspect and exits from the superior aspect

external rotation

a motion that occurs within the transverse plane about the longitudinal axis of rotation such that the anterior aspect of an extremity moves away from the midline of the body

internal rotation

a motion that occurs within the transverse plane, about the longitudinal axis of rotation such that the anterior aspect of an extremity moves toward the midline of the body