Location Terminology

Anatomical Position

standing upright, feet shoulder-width apart, arms at sides, and palms facing forward.

Anterior (ventral)

Refers to the front side of the body (belly side).

Posterior (dorsal)

Refers to the back side of the body.

Medial

Closer to the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Superior

Above or closer to the head.

Inferior

Below or further from the head.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment of a limb.

Distal

Further from the point of attachment of a limb.

Superficial

Closer to the surface of the body.

Deep

Further from the surface of the body.

Ulnar

Closer to the medial part of the arm or forearm

Radial

Closer to the lateral part of the arm or forearm

Tibial

Closer to the medial portion of the thigh or leg

Fibular

Closer to the lateral portion of the thigh or leg

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body into right and left portions; movement occurs forwards and backwards.

Frontal Plane

Divides the body into anterior and posterior portions; movement occurs to the left and right.

Transverse Plane

Divides the body into superior and inferior portions; movement occurs up and down and spinning.

Oblique

Refers to a slant or diagonal orientation.

Flexion

Decrease of the angle between two body parts.

Extension

Increase of the angle between two body parts.

Rotation

Movement around a single axis.

Abduction

Movement of limbs away from the midline.

Adduction

Movement of limbs towards the midline.

Circumduction

Circular motion of a body part from a single point.

Hyperextension

Extension beyond the anatomical position, often resulting in injury.

Dorsiflexion

When the ball of the foot is above the ground while the heel is on the ground.

Plantar Flexion

When the ball of the foot is on the ground and the heel is above the ground.

Inversion

Turning the soles of the feet towards the midline.

Eversion

Turning the soles of the feet away from the midline.

Supination

Turning the palms in an anterior direction.

Pronation

Turning the palms in a posterior direction.

Opposition

Using the thumbs to grasp and manipulate objects.

Axial

Refers to the body section that includes the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular

Refers to the body section that includes the upper and lower limbs.

Body Part

A part of the body that can move independently, separated by joints.

Major Body Parts

axial (head, neck, shoulder girdle, trunk, pelvis) and appendicular (arm, forearm, hand, thigh, leg, foot).