What does ‘Medial’ mean?
In the centre
What does ‘Lateral’ mean?
Away from the centre, to a side
What does ‘Superficial’ mean?
On the surface
What does ‘Deep’ mean?
On the inside, past the surface
What is the opposite of deep?
Superficial
What does ‘Proximal’ mean?
Closer to the centre mass of the body or other point of reference
What does ‘Distal’ mean?
Further from the centre mass of the body or other point of reference
What does ‘Anterior’ mean?
Towards the front
What does ‘Posterior’ mean?
Towards the back
What does ‘Rostral’ mean?
Towards the face (different to towards the head)
What does ‘Plantar’ mean?
On the sole of the feet
What does ‘Palmar’ mean?
On the palm of the hand
What does ‘Superior’ mean?
Towards the head end/ bigger/ above
What does ‘Inferior’ mean?
Towards the feet end/ smaller/ below
What does ‘Cranial’ mean?
Towards the head
What does ‘Caudal’ mean?
Towards the bottom of the feet (posterior, inferior)
What does ‘Volar’ mean?
On the underside of the palms or feet
What does ‘Dorsal’ mean?
On the back (except in reference to the head)
What does ‘Ventral’ mean?
On the front (except in reference to the head)
What does ‘Lateral Flexion’ mean?
Movement of the head or trunk laterally away from the midline. Abduction of spine
What does ‘Reduction’ mean?
Return of spine to medial position from lateral flexion. Adduction of spine
What does ‘Ulnar Deviation’ mean?
Adduction movement at wrist of little finger side of hand towards forearm
What does ‘Radial Deviation’ mean?
Abduction movement of thumb side of hand towards forearm
What does ‘Elevation’ mean?
Moving a part superiorly (like shrugging shoulders)
What does ‘Relations’ mean?
Relative to another part
What does ‘Flexion’ mean?
Bending at a joint as to decrease the angle
What does ‘Extension’ mean?
Bending at a joint to straighten the joint
What does ‘Circumduction’ mean?
Moving in a circular motion, combining multiple different movements
What does ‘Depression’ mean?
Moving a part inferiorly (like bringing shrugged shoulders back down)
What does ‘Abduction’ mean?
Movement away from the midline. In hands and feet use their own midlines
What does ‘Adduction’ mean?
Movement towards the midline. In hands and feet use their own midlines
What does ‘Opposition’ mean?
Movement of the thumb around towards the fingers
What does ‘Reposition’ mean?
Movement of the thumb away from the fingers to anatomical position
What does ‘Inversion’ mean?
Turning sole of foot inward, or medially.
What does ‘Eversion’ mean?
Turning sole of foot outward
What does ‘Rotation’ mean?
To turn on its own axis.
What does ‘Protraction’ mean?
To move into a more anterior position than normal
What does ‘Retraction’ mean?
To move into a more posterior position than normal
What does ‘Dorsiflexion’ mean?
Elevating the foot so the toes point up
What does ‘Plantarflexion’ mean?
Lowering the foot so the toes point down
What does ‘The Anatomical Position’ mean?
Standing upright with the head, eyes and toes directed anteriorly, arms adjacent to thesides with the palms facing anteriorly, and the lower limbs close together with the feet parallel
Why do we have ‘The Anatomical Position’?
All anatomical descriptions are expressed in relation to one consistentposition, ensuring that descriptions are not ambiguous.
What does ‘Median’ mean?
The vertical plane passing longitudinally through the body, divides the body into right andleft halves. This defines the midline of the head, neck, and trunk where it intersects the surface ofthe body.
What does ‘Sagittal’ mean?
Vertical planes passing through the body parallel to the median plane.
What does ‘Frontal/ Coronal’ mean?
Vertical planes passing through the body at right angles to the median plane,dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts.
What is used interchangeably with ‘median’?
Midline
What does ‘Transverse’ mean?
Horizontal planes passing through the body at right angles to the median and frontalplanes, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts.
What does ‘Axial’ mean?
The same as transverse, except transverse will be oblique/ diagonal on limbs.