DIRECTIONAL TERMS AND ANATOMICAL ORIENTATIONS

abduction

movement toward the side, away from the body

adduction

movement toward the side, toward the body

anterior

toward or near the front; ventral

posterior

toward or near the back; dorsal

base

the lower or supporting part of any structure

apex

the pointed tip of a conical structure

bilateral

both sides

unilateral

one side

contralateral

the opposite side

ipsilateral

the same side

deep

further into the body

superficial

nearer to the surface of the body

eversion

movement of the ankle causing the bottom of the foot to face toward the side or laterally

inversion

movement of the ankle causing the bottom of the foot to face toward the midline or medially

flexion

movement toward the front or anterior (exception at the knee joint)

extension

movement toward the back or posterior (exception at the knee joint)

horizontal adduction

movement of the arm toward the midline, or anterior, when at shoulder level

horizontal abduction

movement of the arm away from midline, or posterior, when at shoulder level

medial

toward the midline; nearer to the middle

lateral

away from the midline; toward the side

medial rotation

rotation movement of the shoulder or hip toward the midline; internal rotation

lateral rotation

rotation movement of the shoulder or hip away from the midline; external rotation

pronation

rotation movement of the forearm to palm down; palm facing posterior

supination

rotation movement of the forearm to palm up; palm facing anterior

protraction

movement of the scapula away from the spinal column; scapular abduction

retraction

movement of the scapula toward the spinal column; scapular adduction

proximal

nearer to the axial body

distal

further from the axial body

radial deviation

movement of the wrist toward the radius or away from the body; wrist abduction

ulnar deviation

movement of the wrist toward the ulna or toward the body; wrist adduction

superior

toward or nearer to the head; cranial

inferior

toward or nearer to the feet: caudal

supine

lying horizontally facing upward

prone

lying horizontally facing downward

ventral

front; anterior

dorsal

back; posterior