Anatomical Planes, Axes, and Directional Terms Practice

Flashcards covering anatomical planes, body axes, directional terms, and basic body movements based on the lecture material.

Sagittal plane

An anatomical plane that divides the body into left and right sections, where flex and extend movements occur around the medial/lateral axis.

Coronal plane

An anatomical plane, also known as the frontal plane, where movement abducts and adducts in a lateral motion similar to a TV screen.

Transverse plane

An anatomical plane, also known as the horizontal plane, where action moves parallel to the floor like the surface of a table.

Vertical axis

An anatomical axis running top-to-bottom around which horizontal plane movements occur.

Sagittal axis

An anatomical axis running front-to-back around which coronal plane movements occur.

Coronal axis

An anatomical axis running side-to-side (medial/lateral) through which sagittal plane movements like flexion and extension occur.

Distal

A directional term referring to a position further away from the point of attachment or trunk of the body.

Proximal

A directional term referring to a position closer to the point of attachment or trunk of the body.

Superior

A directional term referring to a position above or toward the head.

Inferior

A directional term referring to a position below or toward the feet.

Lateral

A directional term referring to a position farther away from the midline of the body.

Medial

A directional term referring to a position closer to the midline of the body.

Anterior

A directional term referring to the front surface or ventral aspect of the body.

Posterior

A directional term referring to the back surface or dorsal aspect of the body.

Superficial

A directional term referring to a location closer to the outer surface of the body.

Deep

A directional term referring to a location further inside, away from the surface of the body.

Flexion

A basic body movement associated with the anterior surface of the body.

Extension

A basic body movement associated with the posterior surface of the body.

Abduction

A lateral movement in the coronal plane that moves a body part away from the midline.

Adduction

A movement in the coronal plane that brings a body part toward the midline.

Oblique plane

A movement plane formed by a combination of two or three anatomical planes.

Anatomical axes and planes

The reference system dividing the body into vertical, sagittal, and coronal axes as well as sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes.