Terminology pertaining anatomical locations

These terms are used to indicate location of a finding in the body, very important for proper documentation of PE.

Anterior

Front

Posterior

Back

Lateral

Away from midline of body

Medial

Close to midline of body

Proximal

close to center of body or point of attachment (joint)

Distal

away from center of body or point of attachment (joint)

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement toward the midline of the body.

Flexion

Bending a body part

Extension

Straightening a body part.

Eversion

Turning foot outward at the ankle.

Inversion

Turning foot inward at the ankle.

Dorsiflexion

Backward flexion, as in bending backward either a hand or foot.

Plantar flexion

bending of the sole of the foot by curling the toes toward the ground

Pronation

turning the palm downward.

Supination

turning the palm upward.

Planar

referring to the sole of foot

Palmar

referring to the palm of the hand

Thenar

relating to the rounded fleshy part of the hand at the base of the thumb

Hypothenar

relating to the part of the palm under the little finger.

Perioral

Surrounding the mouth.

Periorbital

Pertaining to the area surrounding the socket of the eye

Volar

Pertaining to the palm or the sole. For example, the volar surface of the forearm is the portion of the forearm that is on the same side as the palm of the hand.

Dorsal

pertaining to the back or posterior surface of a body part

Metacarpals

form the intermediate part of the skeletal hand located between the phalanges of the fingers and the carpal bones. . The metacarpal bones are analogous to the metatarsal bones in the foot.

Phalanges of the hand

bones that make up the fingers of the hand.

Phalanges of the foot

bones that make up the toes of the foot.

What are the three phalanges present in fingers or toes

Proximal phalange, Middle phalange and distal phalange. The thumb and big toe do not have a middle phalange.

Interphalangeal joints or IP joints

joints between the phalanges of the fingers or toes which allow movement.

DIP joint

distal interphalangeal joint. the joint between the middle and distal phalange of a given finger or toe.

PIP joint

proximal interphalangeal joint. the joint between the middle and proximal phalange of a given finger or toe.

MCP joint

metacarpophalangeal joint. the joint between the the carpal bone and the proximal phalange of a given finger. MCP is for hand and MTP is for foot.

MTP joint

metatarsophalangeal joint. the joint between the the tarsal bone and the proximal phalange of a given toe. MCP is for hand and MTP is for foot.