Anatomy & Physiology Vocab

Prone

Term for lying face down

Supine

Term for lying face up

Superior (Cranial)

Toward the head or upper part of a structure; above

Inferior (Caudal)

Toward the lower part of the body; below

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward the front of the body

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back of the body

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or origin of limb

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or origin of a limb

Superficial

Closer to or on the body surface

Deep

Farther away from the body surface

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body vertically into right and left sides. A cut directly down the midline is a midsagittal plane

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Divides the body vertically into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions

Transverse (Horizontal) Plane

Divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions, creating cross sections

Flexion

Decreases the angle of a joint

Ex) bending the elbow

Extension

Increases the angle of the joint

Ex) straightening the elbow

Abduction

Moving a limb away from the body’s midline

Adduction

Moving a limb toward the body’s midline

Pronation

Rotating the forearm so the palm face down; posteriorly

Supination

Rotating the forearm so the palm faces up; anteriorly