Human Anatomy Directional Terms and Joint Movements

These flashcards cover directional terminology, anatomical planes, regional anatomy, and the various types of joint movements described in the lecture notes.

Ventral

Toward the front or belly.

Dorsal

Toward the back or spine.

Anterior

Toward the ventral side.

Posterior

Toward the dorsal side.

Cephalic

Toward the head or superior end.

Rostral

Toward the forehead or nose.

Caudal

Toward the tail or inferior end.

Superior

Above.

Inferior

Below.

Medial

Toward the median plane.

Lateral

Away from the median plane.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or origin.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or origin.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body.

Contralateral

On opposite sides of the body.

Superficial

Closer to the body surface.

Deep

Farther from the body surface.

Sagittal Plane

A plane that divides the body or an organ into right and left portions.

Coronal (Frontal) Plane

A plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Transverse Plane

A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions.

Acromial region

The region of the shoulder.

Axillary region

The region of the armpit.

Brachial region

The region of the arm.

Cubital region

The region of the elbow.

Antebrachial region

The region of the forearm.

Carpal region

The region of the wrist.

Coxal region

The region of the hip.

Patellar region

The region of the knee.

Femoral region

The region of the thigh.

Crural region

The region of the leg.

Tarsal region

The region of the ankle.

Nuchal region

The region of the back of the neck.

Popliteal region

The region situated at the back of the knee.

Calcaneal region

The region of the heel.

Epigastric region

The upper central region of the abdomen, located above the umbilical region.

Hypogastric region

The lowest central region of the abdomen, located below the umbilical region.

Flexion

Movement that decreases the joint angle.

Extension

Movement that straightens a joint and returns a body part to the zero position.

Hyperextension

The extension of a joint beyond the zero position.

Abduction

Movement of a body part in the frontal plane away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement in the frontal plane back toward the midline.

Elevation

Movement that raises a body part vertically in the frontal plane.

Depression

Movement that lowers a body part vertically in the frontal plane.

Protraction

The anterior movement of a body part in the transverse (horizontal) plane.

Retraction

The posterior movement of a body part in the transverse (horizontal) plane.

Circumduction

Movement where one end of an appendage remains stationary while the other end makes a circular motion.

Medial (internal) rotation

Movement in which a bone spins on its longitudinal axis turning the bone inward.

Lateral (external) rotation

Movement in which a bone spins on its longitudinal axis turning the bone outward.

Supination

Forearm movement that turns the palm to face anteriorly or upward, where the radius is parallel to the ulna.

Pronation

Forearm movement that turns the palm to face posteriorly or downward; the radius crosses the stationary ulna like an X.

Lateral flexion

Tilting the head or trunk to the right or left at the midline.

Radial flexion

Hand movement where the hand tilts toward the thumb.

Ulnar flexion

Hand movement where the hand tilts toward the little finger.

Radial abduction

Thumb movement where the thumb moves away from the hand but stays in the plane of the hand.

Palmar abduction

Thumb movement where the thumb moves away from the plane of the hand pointing anteriorly.

Opposition

Movement of the thumb to approach the tip of another finger.

Reposition

The return of the thumb to its zero position.

Dorsiflexion

Elevating the toes, as performed during a heel strike when taking a step.

Plantar flexion

Extending the foot so that toes point downward, as in standing on tiptoe.

Inversion

Movement in which the soles of the feet are turned medially.

Eversion

Movement in which the soles of the feet are turned laterally.