Body movement, directional terms and planes and positions

Frontal plane

○ Vertical division of the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

○ Also called Coronal Plane

Sagittal Plane

Vertical division of the body into right and left portions

Transverse plane

○ Horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions

○ Also called Horizontal Plane

Anterior or Ventral

Front of the body

Posterior or Dorsal

Back of the body

Anterior-Posterior (AP)

From front to back

In reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

Posterior-Anterior (PA)

From back to front

In reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

Superior or Cephalic

Situated above another structure

Towards the head

Inferior or Caudal

Situated below another structure away from the head

Proximal

○ Towards the beginning or origin of a structure

○ Ex: the proximal aspect of the femur is the area closest to where it attaches to the hip

Distal

○ Away the beginning or origin of a structure

○ Ex: distal aspect of the femur is the area at the end of the bone near the knee

Medial

Towards the middle (midline)

Lateral

Towards the side

Axis

The imaginary line that runs through the center of the body of a body part

Erect

Normal standing position

Decubitus

Lying down, especially in a bed

Lateral decubitus

lying on the side

Decumbo

to lie down

Prone

Lying face down and flat

Recumbent

Lying down

Supine

Horizontal recumbent, Lying flat on the back

Flexion

Bending at the joint so that the angle between the bones is decreased

Extension

Straightening at the joint so that the angle between the bones is increased

Abduction

Movement AWAY from the body

Adduction

Movement TOWARDS the body

rotation

Circular movement around an axis

Eversion

Turning OUTward that is of a foot

Inversion

Turning INward that is of a foot

Pronation

Turning the palmar surface or plantar surface DOWNWARD or BACKWARD

Supination

Turning of the palmar surface or plantar surface UPWARD of FORWARD

Dorsiflexion

Bending of the foot or the toes upward

Plantar flexion

Bending of the sole of the foot by curling the toes toward the ground

Range of Motion (ROM)

Total motion possible at a joint

Goniometer

Instrument used to measure joint angles