Terminology
Anatomical Position, Directional Terms and Movements By Dr.Fahmida Khatoon Assistant Professor
Anatomical Terms Worksheet
History
During the Renaissance (Rebirth) the study of human life and medicine began to flourish. Scientist, Doctors and Artist would experiment and practice on the dead and incarcerated. Cadavers were positioned flat on their backs, thus making it easier to draw and reference from that position.
Many artist such as Leonardo da Vinci began to study, draw and diagram the human body.
Anatomical Position
Standing erect, with palms and feet facing forward Is the standard reference point in which all positions, movements, and planes are described
Positions and Directions
Terms of position and direction describe the position of one body part relative to another, usually along one of the three major body planes
Positions and Directions
Superior Refers to a structure being closer to the head or higher than another structure in the body Inferior Refers to a structure being closer to the feet or lower than another structure in the body
Positions and Directions
Anterior Refers to a structure being more in front than another structure in the body Posterior Refers to a structure being more in back than another structure in the body
Positions and Directions
Medial Refers to a structure being closer to the midline or median plane of the body than another structure of the body
Lateral Refers to a structure being farther away from the midline than another structure of the body
Positions and Directions
Distal
(Reference to the extremities only)
Refers to a structure being further away from the root of the limb than another structure in the limb Proximal
(Reference to the extremities only)
Refers to a structure being closer to the root of the limb than another structure in that limb
Distal / Proximal Cont.
When you divide the skeleton into Axial (Blue) and Appendicular (Yellow) you can better understand the extremities and their roots. Proximal Distal
Positions and Directions
Superficial Refers to a structure being closer to the surface of the body than another structure Deep Refers to a structure being closer to the core of the body than another structure
Positions and Directions
Ventral Towards the front or belly
You Vent out or your nose and mouth.
Dorsal Towards the back
Like the Dorsal fin of a dolphin.
Positions and Directions
Prone Lying face down
Like a Pro Baseball player sliding into Home.
Supine Lying face up
Lying on your spine and you can have soup poured into your mouth.
Unilateral Pertaining to one side of the body Bilateral Pertaining to both sides of the body
Anatomical Planes
Fixed lines of reference along which the body is often divided or sectioned to facilitate viewing of its structures
Allow one to obtain a three-dimensional perspective by studying the body from different views
Anatomical Planes
Sagittal plane The plane dividing the body into right and left portions Midsagittal or median are names for the plane dividing the body into equal right and left halves
Anatomical Planes
Frontal plane The plane dividing the body into front and back portions Also called the Coronal plane
Anatomical Planes
Transverse plane The horizontal plane dividing the body into upper and lower portions Also called the Horizontal plane
Movements
Flexion Extension Hyperextension Adduction Abduction Prontaion Supination Retraction Protraction Elevation Depression Rotation Circumduction External Rotation Internal Rotation Inversion Eversion Dorsiflexion Plantarflexion Radial Deviation Ulnar Deviation Opposition
Movements
Flexion Bending a joint or decreasing the angle between two bones
In the Fetal Position we are flexing our joints
Extension Straightening a joint or increasing the angle between two bones
In the Anatomical Position we are extending our joints
Hyperextension Excessive extension of the parts at a joint beyond anatomical position.
Flexion / Extension / Hyperextension
Movements
Adduction Moving a body part towards the midline of the body
Abduction Moving a body part away from the midline of the body
Movements
Pronation Turning the arm or foot downward (palm or sole of the foot down)
Prone
Supination Turning the arm or foot upward (palm or sole of the foot - up)
Supine
Movements
Retraction Moving a part backward Protraction Moving a part forward Elevation Raising a part Depression Lowering a part
Movements
Rotation Turning on a single axis Circumduction Tri-planar, circular motion at the hip or shoulder Internal rotation Rotation of the hip or shoulder toward the midline External rotation Rotation of the hip or shoulder away from the midline
Movements
Lateral Flexion Side-bending left or right
Movements of the Foot
Inversion Turning the sole of the foot inward Eversion Turning the sole of the foot outward Dorsiflexion Ankle movement bringing the foot towards the shin Plantarflexion Ankle movement pointing the foot downward
Movements of the Wrist & Thumb
Radial Deviation Movement of the wrist towards the radius or lateral side. Ulnar Deviation Movement of the wrist towards the ulna or medial side. Opposition Movement of the thumb across the palm of the hand.
Additional Range of Motion
Range of Motion
1. 2. 3. Hip _Abduction_________________ __________________________ Hip _Adduction_________________ __________________________ Hip _Flexion___________________ __________________________ Knee _Extension________________ ________________________ Ankle ________________________ _Plantarflexion____________ 4. Wrist _________________________ _Extension________________ (a) _Hyperextension_____________ __________________________ (b) _Flexion____________________ __________________________ 5. Hip _Flexion___________________ __________________________ Knee _Flexion__________________ ________________________ Ankle ________________________ _Dorsiflexion______________ 6. Forearm (a) _Supination__________ ___________________ Forearm (b) _Pronation__________ ___________________ 7. Shoulder _Circumduction_________ ______________________ 8. Shoulder _Elevation_____________ ______________________ 9. Jaw _Protraction________________ __________________________ 10. Shoulder _Rotation______________ ______________________
Regional Terms
Word Association Activity
