health practices chapter 1

Center of Mass

The single point of a body about which every particle of its mass is equally distributed.

Prone

Lying face down.

Supine

Lying face up.

Coronal (frontal) plane

A vertical plane that runs perpendicular to the sagittal plane, dividing the body into anterior and posterior.

Transverse (horizontal) plane

A plane that runs parallel to the floor, dividing the body into superior and inferior.

Sagittal plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into equal right and left sides.

Superior

Above or towards the head.

Inferior

Below or towards the tail.

Anterior

Towards the front.

Posterior

Towards the back.

Proximal

Towards the center.

Distal

Away from the center.

Medial

Towards the midline.

Lateral

Away from the midline.

Mediolateral axis

Runs side to side in the frontal plane and allows motion in the sagittal plane.

Anteroposterior Axis

Runs in a front to back direction in the sagittal plane and allows motion in the frontal plane.

Vertical Axis

Runs in superior-inferior direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane and allows motion in the horizontal plane.

Flexion

A joint movement that decreases the angle between two body parts.

Extension

A joint movement that increases the angle between two body parts.

Hyperextension

Extension of a joint beyond its normal range of motion.

Abduction

Moving away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Adding to the midline of the body.

Circumduction

Moving in all three planes.

External rotation

Rotating a joint away from the midline of the body.

Internal rotation

Rotating a joint towards the midline of the body.