An Introduction to Skeletal Anatomy and the Development , Physiology , and Biochemistry of Bone

Anatomical Position

In humans, lying with palms facing forward

Anterior

Toward the front; opposite of poster

Apical

Pertaining to the apex or highest part of a structure; opposite of basilar

Basilar

Pertaining to the base or lowest part of a structure; opposite of apical

Contralateral

Refers to a structure, feature (even motion), etc., on the side of the body opposite that on which a structure, etc., of interest occurs; opposite of ipsilateral

Distal

Away from the trunk; opposite of proximal

Dorsal

Pertaining to (1) the back (i.e., posterior surface) of the hand or (2) the superior surface of the foot; opposite, respectively, of palmar and plantar

External

Toward the outside; opposite of internal

Inferior

Toward the feet; opposite of superior

Internal

Toward the inside; opposite of external

Ipsilateral

Referring to a structure, feature (even motion), etc., occurring on the same side of the body as the structure, etc., of interest; opposite of contralateral

Lateral

Away from the median plane; opposite of medial

Medial

Toward the median plane; opposite of lateral

Palmar

The anterior surface or palm; opposite of dorsal

Plantar

The inferior surface or sole; opposite of dorsal

Posterior

Toward the back; opposite of anterior

Prone

Facing downward with the back up; opposite of supine

Proximal

Toward the trunk; opposite of distal

Superior

Toward the head; opposite of inferior

Supine

Facing upward with the back down; opposite of prone

Anteroposterior (AP) plan / Median (sagittal) plane / Midsagittal plane

A vertical plane that passes through the midline of the body (or the skull coincident with the sagittal suture) from front to back, dividing it into symmetrical left and right halves; it is perpendicular to the coronal plane

Coronal plane / Frontal plane

A vertical plane that passes through the body (or structure, e.g., skull) from side to side (i.e., parallel to the coronal suture) and divides the body (or structure) into anterior and posterior portions; it lies perpendicular to the median plane.

Frankfort horizontal (FH) plan

A horizontal plane on which the anthropometric landmarks porion (i.e., the midpoint of the superior margin of the external auditory meatus) and orbitale (i.e., the inferiormost point on the inferior margin of the orbit) are positioned in order to provide a standard orientation of the skull (e.g., for measuring, describing, illustrating)

Horizontal plane / Transverse plane

A horizontal plane that passes through the body (or structure) at right angles to both the median and coronal planes, dividing it into superior and inferior portions and creating a cross section of the body (or structure).

Oblique plane

A plane not parallel to the coronal, median, or transverse planes

Paramedian plane / Parasagittal plane / Sagittal plane

A vertical plane parallel to the median plane

Abduction

A laterally directed movement in the coronal plane away from the median sagittal plane; opposite of adduction.

Adduction

A medially directed movement in the coronal plane toward the median sagittal plane; opposite of abduction.

Circumduction

A circular movement created by the sequential combination of abduction, flexion, adduction, and extension

Depression

An inferiorly or inwardly directed movement; opposite of elevation

Dorsiflexion

A bending of the foot that decreases the angle between it and the anterior surface of the leg (e.g., squatting); opposite of plantar flexion

Elevation

A superiorly or outward directed movement; opposite of depression

Eversion

A movement of the foot that causes its plantar surface to face laterally; opposite of inversion

Extension

A movement in the sagittal plane around a transverse axis that separates two structures (e.g. straightening the leg or arm); opposite of flexion

Flexion

A bending movement in the sagittal plane and around a transverse axis that draws two structures toward each other; opposite of extension

Inversion

A movement of the foot that causes its plantar surface to face medially; opposite of eversion

Lateral rotation

Movement of a structure around its longitudinal axis, causing its anterior surface to face laterally; opposite of medial rotation.

Medial rotation

Movement of a structure around its longitudinal axis, causing its anterior surface to face medially; opposite of lateral rotation

Opposition

A movement of the thumb across the palm such that its "pad" contacts the "pad" of another digit; this movement involves abduction with flexion and medial rotation at the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.

Plantar flexion

A bending of the foot in the direction of its plantar surface such that the top of the foot lies in the same plane as the anterior surface of the leg (e.g., standing on tiptoe); opposite of dorsiflexion

Pronation

A medial rotation of the forearm, which causes the palm of the hand to face posteriorly and the radius to cross over the ulna: opposite of supination

Protraction

An anteriorly directed movement, usually used to describe the forward movement of the mandible at the temporomandibular joint; opposite of retraction

Retraction

A posteriorly directed movement, usually used to describe the backward movement of the mandible at the temporomandibular joint; opposite of protraction

Supination

A lateral rotation of the forearm that causes the palm of the hand to face the anteriorly and the ulna and radius to lie parallel to one another; opposite of pronation