PLANES, MOVEMENT, and DIRECTIONAL TERMS

Sagittal Plane

divides body into right and left.

Frontal Plane

divides the body into front and back

horizontal plane

divides the body into top and bottom

superior

closer to head

inferior

closer to feet

anterior

front of the body

posterior

back of the body

medial

closer to midline

lateral

farther from midline

proximal

closer to torso

distal

farther from torso

superficial

closer to the body’s surface

deep

further from the body’s surface

prone

face down

supine

face up

flexion

bends joint

lateral flexion

bending to the side

dorsiflexion

bending the foot

plantar flexion

pointing the foot

extension

straightens the joint

hyperextension

super extending

abduction

moving away from the midline

adduction

moving towards the midline

external rotation

turning the back surfaces of a limb out

Internal rotation

turning the back surface of a limb inward

circumduction

circular motion

supination

turning a body part face up

pronation

turning a body part face down

inversion

rolling outward

eversion

rolling inward

protraction

move body part forward

retraction

moving body part backward

elevation

upward movement

depression

downward movement

anterior pelvic tilt

tilting pelvis forward

posterior pelvic tilt

tilting pelvis backward