Anatomical Position, Terms, and Bone Markings

Anatomical Position

  • Body is standing erect, facing forward, feet together, palms facing forward.
  • Other positions: Supine (face up), Prone (face down).

Directional Terms

  • Superior vs. Inferior: Toward or away from the head.
  • Medial vs. Lateral: Closer or farther from the midline.
  • Proximal vs. Distal: Closer or farther from the point of attachment on limbs.
  • Superficial vs. Deep: Closer or farther from the surface.
  • Anterior vs. Posterior: Front vs. back.

Body Planes

  • Frontal Plane (Coronal): Divides front and back; allows side-to-side rotation.
  • Sagittal Plane: Divides left and right; allows front-to-back rotation.
  • Transverse Plane: Divides top and bottom; allows spinning rotation.

Movement Terminology

  • Frontal Plane Movements:

    • Adduction: Closer to midline.
    • Abduction: Away from midline.
    • Eversion/Inversion: Outward/inward foot movement.
    • Ulnar/Radial Deviation: Hand movement away from/towards the midline.
    • Lateral Flexion, Elevation, Depression (torso bending, shoulder shrugging).

  • Sagittal Plane Movements:

    • Flexion: Decreasing angle (e.g., bicep curls).
    • Extension: Increasing angle.
    • Hyperextension: Beyond normal range.
    • Dorsiflexion/Plantarflexion: Foot movements involving ankle angle.

  • Transverse Plane Movements:

    • Medial/Lateral Rotation: Toward/away from midline.
    • Pronation/Supination: Arm rotation toward/away from midline.
    • Horizontal Adduction/Abduction.

  • Multi-Plane Movements:

    • Circumduction: Conical motion at joints (involves flexion, extension, adduction, abduction).

General Bone Markings

  • Projections (muscle/ligament attachment): Tuberosity, Crest, Trochanter, Line, Tubercle, Epicondyle, Spine, Process.
  • Articular Surfaces: Head, Facet, Condyle.
  • Depressions/Openings: Groove, Fissure, Meatus, Foramen, Fossa, Notch, Sinus.