anatomical terminology

for ub pas 313

sagittal

splits the body into left and right sides

frontal (coronal)

runs side to side—divides body into front and back portions

transverse (axial)

left to right—separates body into upper and lower portions

anterior (ventral)

front of the body

posterior (dorsal)

back of the body

medial

closer to the mid-sagittal line

lateral

farther from the mid-sagittal line

superior (cranial)

higher up the body

inferior (caudal)

lower down the body

proximal

closer to the point of origin (limb)

distal

farther from the point of origin (limb)

supine

palm faces anteriorly (palm forward)

prone

palm faces posteriorly (palm not in sight)

superficial

closer to the surface of the body

deep

farther from the surface of the body

palmar

related to palms

plantar

related to sole—”palm” of the foot

dorsal

back of the hand/foot

flexion

bending or decreasing the angle between parts

extension

straightening or increasing the angle between parts

abduction

moving away from the core of body (part)

adduction

moving towards the body (part)

circumduction

rotation of the body part in any direction—circular movement

opposition

touching thumb tip to fingerprints

medial (internal) rotation

rotation of the body part inwards

lateral (external) rotation

rotation of the body part outwards

supination

making forearm supine

pronation

making forearm prone

radial deviation

movement of the wrist toward the radius (thumb side)

ulnar deviation

movement of the wrist toward the ulna (pinky side)

dorsiflexion

upward movement of foot at ankle (toes up)

plantarflexion

downward movement of foot at angle (toes down)

eversion

turning plantar surface outward

inversion

turning plantar surface inward