Anatomy Terms so YOU TOO can talk

Anterior

meaning toward the front

Cephalic

pertaining to the head

Cranial

pertaining to the head

Caudal

meaning near the tail

Coronal Plane

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

Distal

a body part located far from an attachment point

Dorsal

toward the back

Frontal Plane

the plane dividing the body vertically into anterior and posterior sections

Inferior

a body part that is below another

Lateral

furthest from the midline of the body

Medial

nearest the midline of the body

Midsagittal plane

the lengthwise plane that divides the body into equal halves

Posterior

toward the back

Proximal

a body part located near an attachment point

Sagittal plane

lengthwise planes dividing the body into right and left sections

Superior

nearest the head

Transverse plane

the plane dividing the body horizontally into upper and lower sections

Ventral

towards the front or towards the belly

Dorsal recumbent position

places the patient supine with their knees bent up

Fowler’s position

the legs are held straight out and the back is supported by the back of a chair

Knee chest position

the patient is facing down with his or her legs bent and the buttocks pushed up

Left lateral position

aka Sim’s position

Lithotomy position

the person’s legs are placed on supports that hold the ankles and spread out the legs

Modified Trendelenburg’s position

Trendelenburg’s position but with the feet in line with the pelvis

Prone position

when a person lies face down

Sim’s position

the person lies face down on their left side with the left arm behind the back and the left knee bent

Sitting position

the standard way a person would sit in a chair or at the edge of a table

Supine position

places a person flat on their back facing up

Trendelenburg’s position

the patient is supine with the body tilted so that the head is lower than the legs

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

Antagonistic

opposing movements

Eversion

movement of the hand or foot so that the thumb or big toe moves away from the midline of the body

Extension

to straighten a joint

Flexion

to bend a joint

Inversion

movement of the hand or foot so that the thumb or big toe moves towards the midline of the body