Anatomical Terms/Directions/Positions/Movements/Planes

ch 1 & 3

Anatomical Position

When the body is in _____, it is erect in posture, with arms at the sides, and palms and feet facing forward.

Anatomy

The structural make-up of an organism.

Physiology

The functions of an organism.

Bilateral

Refers to body structures located laterally on both sides of the body.

Unilateral

Refers to a single body part found in a lateral location.

Pathology

The study of human diseases.

Supine

Places a person flat on his back facing up.

Prone

The person is lying face down on the table.

Lithotomy position

In which the person's legs are placed on supports that hold the ankles and spread out the legs.

Medial

Nearest to the midline of the body. The nose is ____ to the ears.

Lateral

Furthest from the midline of the body. The ears are ___ to the nose.

Abduction

Movement of the arm or leg away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement of the arm or leg toward the midline of the body.

Eversion

Movement of the hand or foot so that the thumb or great toe moves away from the midline of the body.

Inversion

Movement of the hand or foot so that the thumb or great toe moves toward the midline of the body.

Superior

Nearest to the head. The shoulder is ____ to the knee.

Inferior

A body part that is below another. The knee is _____ to the shoulder.

Proximal

A body part located near an attachment point. For the joints, for the arm it's the shoulder and for the legs it's the hip bone.

Distal

A body part located far from an attachment point. For the joints, for the arm it's the shoulder and for the legs it's the hip bone.

Anterior

Meaning toward the front. The nose is _____ to the ears.

Posterior

Toward the back. The ears are ___ to the nose.

Ventral

In humans, toward the front. In other animals, refers to the belly.

Dorsal

Toward the back.

Flexion

To bend a joint.

Extension

To straighten a joint.

Sagittal cut/plane (parasagittal)

Lengthwise planes dividing the body into right and left sections.

Midsagittal cut/plane

The lengthwise plane that divides the body into equal halves.

Frontal cut/plane

The plane dividing the body vertically into anterior and posterior sections. For example, this cut can start from the shoulder and move down to the feet; it doesn't have to start at the crown.

Coronal cut/plane

The plane dividing the body vertically into anterior and posterior sections; referring to the crown of the head.

Transverse cut/plane

The plane dividing the body vertically into superior and inferior sections.