Introduction to Anatomy: Anatomical Movements

Detailed vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical directions, planes of the body, and various anatomical movements based on the lecture notes.

Superior

Above; towards the head

Inferior

Below; towards the feet

Proximal

Closer to an attached area, or the trunk; used to describe the upper and lower limbs only

Distal

Further from an attached area, or the trunk; used to describe the upper and lower limbs only

Medial

Toward the midline

Lateral

Away from the midline

Anterior (Ventral)

Front of the body

Posterior (Dorsal)

Back of the body

Frontal (Coronal) plane

Divides front (anterior) from back (posterior)

Sagittal plane

Divides left from right

Transverse (Horizontal) plane

Divides horizontally, creating inferior and superior sections

Flexion

Movement that decreases the angle between two bones or two parts of the body

Extension

Movement that increases the angle between two bones or two parts of the body

Abduction

Movement of the limb/digit away from the midline (laterally)

Adduction

Movement of the limb/digit towards the midline (medially)

Rotation

Turning around a central longitudinal axis

Pronation

Rotation of the forearm (radius bone) inwards (medially), causing the palm to face downwards

Supination

Rotation of the forearm (radius bone) outwards (laterally), causing the palm to face upwards

Abduction of the thumb

Moving the thumb to a position that is $90$ degrees perpendicular to the palm

Adduction of the thumb

Reversal of abduction (returning the thumb to neutral position)

Opposition

Movement of the pad of the thumb to touch another finger

Reposition

Reversal of opposition (returning thumb to neutral position)

Plantar Flexion

Pushing or pointing the toes and the ball of the foot down towards the ground (i.e., standing on "tip toes")

Dorsiflexion

Standing on the heel of the foot, with the toes pointing up towards the sky

Inversion

Moving the foot to turn the sole inwards (medially)

Eversion

Moving the foot to turn the sole outwards (laterally)

Elevation

Moving a body part upwards (superiorly)

Depression

Moving a body part downwards (inferiorly)

Protraction

Moving a body part forwards (anteriorly)

Retraction

Moving a body part backwards (posteriorly)

Lateral Flexion

Bending the vertebral column (spine) to the side

Circumduction

Movement at the joint that causes the distal limb to move in a circle; a compound movement involving abduction, adduction, extension, and flexion