General Terminology

anatomy

The term applied to the science of the structure of the body

Physiology

The study of the function of the body organs

Osteology

The detailed study of the body of knowledge relating to the bones of the body

Surface Landmarks

Most anatomic structures cannot be seen or palpated
These landmarks are accepted averages for most patients and should be used only as guidelines

Recumbent position

General term referring to lying down in any position

supine position

lying on the back

prone position

lying face down

upright standing position

erect or marked by a vertical position

upright seated position

upright position in which the patient is sitting on a chair or stool

oblique position

Body is rotated so that the coronal plane is not parallel with the table or IR
Named according to side and surface of body closer to table or IR
Abbreviations: RPO, LPO,RAO, and LAO

Decubitus position

recumbent position with a horizontal CR
named according to the body surface on which the patient is lying

Lordotic position

upright position in which the patient is leaning backward

Trendelenburg position

supine with the head lower than the feet
heart higher than head
good for patient feeling faint

fowler position

Supine with head elevated
head higher than heart
good for nauseas patients and keeps contrast media at bay (not towards brain)

sims position

recumbent with patient lying on left anterior side with left leg extended and right knee and thigh partially flexed
relaxes abdominal muscles, so good for barium enemas
LAO with knee flex

Lithotomy position

supine with knees and hips flexed and thighs abducted and rotated externally, supported by ankle supports
used for genital-urinary system

lateral position

named according to the side of the patient that is placed closer to the IR

Cephalad (cephalic) and Caudad (caudal) relationship

Cephalad: Parts or CR toward head
Caudad: Parts or CR away from head (toward the feet)

proximal relationship

near the source or beginning; toward the center of the body

distal relationship

away from the source or point of attachment; away from the center of the body

medial relationship

Towards the middle of the body (MSP) or toward the middle of another body part

Lateral Relationship

Away from the middle of the body (MSP) or away from the middle of another body part

Ipsilateral relationship

parts on the same side of the body

Contralateral relationship

Parts on the opposite side of the body

plantar surface

sole or posterior surface of the foot

dorsum pedis

top or anterior surface of the foot

palmar

palm of hand

volar

palm of hand or sole of foot

extension

Extending or straightening of a joint

flexion

Bending or flexing of a joint

Hyperflexion/Hyperextension

Forced or excessive flexion or extension of a limb or joint

abduction

A movement of leg or arm away from the body, a lateral movement

adduction

A movement of leg or arm toward the body

eversion

An outward stress movement of the foot at the ankle joint without rotation of the leg (sole faces more laterally)

inversion

An inward stress movement of the foot at the ankle joint without rotation of the leg (sole faces more medially)

supination

A rotational movement of the hand into the anatomical position (palm up in supine position or forward in the upright position)

pronation

A rotation of the hand into the opposite of the anatomical position (palm down or back)

Dorsiflexion

Flexion or bending of the foot towards the lower leg

plantar flexion

Flexion or bending of the foot toward the sole of the foot (away from the lower leg)

Medial (Internal) Rotation

A rotation or turning of a body part, moving the anterior aspect of the part toward the inside or medial plane

Lateral (External) Rotation

A rotation of an anterior body part toward the outside or away from the median plane

protraction

A movement forward from a normal position

retraction

A movement backward, or the condition of being drawn back

elevation

A lifting ,raising or moving a part superiorly

depression

A letting down, lowering or moving of apart inferiorly
Good when looking at C6 and C7 because shoulders are in the way

Circumduction

circular movement of a limb

tilt

Tipping or slanting a body part slightly
The tilt is in relation to the long axis of the body.

Rotate (Rotation)

Turning or rotating of the body or a body part around its axis
Rotation will be either medial or lateral from anatomical position

ulnar deviation

Deviating (turning) the hand towards the ulna

radial deviation

Deviating (turning) the hand towards the radius

Identify the structure that is proximal to the wrist
A. Metacarpals
B. Phalanges
C. Elbow

Elbow

Is the ankle (A) proximal or (B) distal to the knee?

Distal

Is the heart (A) anterior or (B) posterior to the spine?

Anterior

Is the thumb on the medial or lateral side of the hand?

Lateral