Lecture 1 - Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

Anatomical Position

Answer 1

• The universal standard posture of reference
• All movement begins from this position
• hands facing forward

Question 2

Anatomical Planes

Answer 2

• Used to provide orientation when you are observing the body as a whole or the parts

Question 3

Median Plane

Answer 3

• also known as midline
• vertical plane passing longitudinally through the body

Question 4

Sagittal Plane

Answer 4

• divides the body into right & left sections
• its part of the coronal axis
• its type of motion is flexion/extension

Question 5

Frontal Plane

Answer 5

• divides the body into anterior (front) & posterior (back) sections
• its part of the sagittal axis
• its type of motion is abduction/adduction & inversion/eversion

Question 6

Transverse Plane

Answer 6

• divides the body into superior (upper) & inferior (lower) sections
• its part of the longitudinal axis
• its type of motion is rotation, internal/external, & horizontal abduction/adduction

Question 7

Axes of Movement

Answer 7

• the pivot point around which the limb will move/rotate
• it is always perpendicular to its plane

Question 8

Superior-Inferior

Answer 8

• means above/below
• towards the head or foot
• ex) your arm is inferior (below) to the head

Question 9

Anterior-Posterior

Answer 9

• means front/back
• can be referred to as ventral-dorsal
• ex) my stomach is anterior (in front) to my spine

Question 10

Dorsum

Answer 10

• The superior aspect of any part that protrudes anteriorly from the body OR a posterior surface

Question 11

Medial-Lateral

Answer 11

• means into or towards/away
• Towards the midline (middle) or towards the
  outside
• ex) the eyes are medial (towards) to the ears

Question 12

Proximal-Distal

Answer 12

• Close to or farther away from the attachment point to the axial skeleton
• Usually only used when referring to the limbs
• ex) the elbow is proximal to the shoulder

Question 13

Superficial-Deep

Answer 13

• means close to or away from the surface
• ex) the skin is superficial to the bones

Question 14

Plantar

Answer 14

• the sole of the foot only

Question 15

Palmer

Answer 15

• the palm of the hand only
• can be referred to as volar

Question 16

Unilateral

Answer 16

• refers to 1 side of the body
• ex) single arm bicep curl

Question 17

Bilateral

Answer 17

• refers to both side of the body
• bicep curl with both arms

Question 18

Ipsilateral

Answer 18

• refers to the same side
• ex) pain in your neck/shoulder on the same side of the body

Question 19

Contralateral

Answer 19

• refers to opposite sides
• ex) pain in your right shoulder & pain in your left leg

Question 20

Flexion-Extension

Answer 20

• bending in then bending it back
• making the angle longer
• elongating

Question 21

Dorsiflexion-Plantarflexion

Answer 21

• only at the talocrural (ankle) joint
• dorsi = toes up)
• plantar = toes down

Question 22

Abduction-Adduction

Answer 22

• abduction = away from the body
• addiction = toward the body
• ex) lifting your arm up (abduction), then bringing it back to the body (adduction)
• jumping jacks is a great example

Question 23

Circumduction

Answer 23

• refers to full rotation (full circle)
• includes abduction/adduction & plantar/dorsi

Question 24

Pronation-Supination

Answer 24

• pronation = palms down/back
• supination = palms up/forward (anatomical position starts with supination)
• ex) rotating your forearms