Anatomical/direction Terms

Front 1

Anatomical Position

Back 1

Standing straight up, Palms and feet facing forward

The standard reference point

Front 2

Anatomical Planes

Back 2

Lines of reference to where the body is divided.

Front 3

Sagittal Plane

Back 3

Medsagittal (plane the divides the body into equal right and left planes).

Front 4

Frontal Plane

Back 4

Coronal Plane dividing the body into front and back parts.

Front 5

Transverse Plane

Back 5

Horizontal plane dividing the body into upper and lower parts

Front 6

Superior

Back 6

Closer to the head or higher up in the body than another structure.

Front 7

Inferior

Back 7

Closer to the feet or lower in the body than another structure.

Front 8

Anterior

Back 8

More in front of another part.

Front 9

Posterior

Back 9

More in the back than another part.

Front 10

Medial

Back 10

Closer to the mid-line.

Front 11

Lateral

Back 11

Away from the mid-line.

Front 12

Distal

Back 12

Further away from the root of the limb.

Front 13

Proximal

Back 13

Closer to the root of the limb.

Front 14

Superficial

Back 14

closer to the surface.

Front 15

Deep

Back 15

Closer to the spinal column.

Front 16

Ventral

Back 16

By the front or belly.

Front 17

Dorsal

Back 17

Towards the back.

Front 18

Prone

Back 18

Lying face down.

Front 19

Supine

Back 19

Lying face up.

Front 20

Unilateral

Back 20

Pertaining to one side of the body.

Front 21

Bilateral

Back 21

Pertaining to both sides of the body.

Front 22

Flexion

Back 22

Bending a joint decreasing the angel of the two bones.

Front 23

Extension

Back 23

Straightening a joint increasing the angel between two bones.

Front 24

Hyperextension

Back 24

Excessive extension parts at joint beyond the atomic positions.

Front 25

Adduction

Back 25

Moving towards the mid-line.

Front 26

Abduction

Back 26

Moving away from the mid-line.

Front 27

Prontaion

Back 27

Turning the arm or foot downwards.

Front 28

Supination

Back 28

Turning the arm or foot upwards.

Front 29

Retraction

Back 29

Moving a part backwards.

Front 30

Protraction

Back 30

Moving a part forwards.

Front 31

Elevation

Back 31

Rasing a part.

Front 32

Depression

Back 32

Lowering a part.

Front 33

Rotation

Back 33

Turning on a single axis.

Front 34

Circumduction

Back 34

Circular movement of the hip or shoulder.

Front 35

External Rotation

Back 35

Rotation of your shoulder and hip away from the mid-line.

Front 36

Internal Rotation

Back 36

Rotation of you shoulder and hip towards the mid-line.

Front 37

Lateral Flexion

Back 37

Side bending left or right.

Front 38

Inversion

Back 38

Turning the sole of your foot inward.

Front 39

Eversion

Back 39

Turning the sole of your foot outward.

Front 40

Dorsilflexion

Back 40

Bringing the foot towards the shin.

Front 41

Plantarflexion

Back 41

Pointing the foot downward.

Front 42

Radial Deviation

Back 42

Towards the radius or lateral side.

Front 43

Ulnar Deviation

Back 43

Towards the ulna or medial side.

Front 44

Opposition

Back 44

Movement of the thumb across the palm of the hand.

Front 45

Midsagital

Back 45

Braking the body in equal right and left.

Front 46

Presagital

Back 46

Splitting the body unequally to right and left.

Front 47

Midsagital

Back 47

Braking the body in equal right and left.

Front 48

Presagital

Back 48

Splitting the body unequally to right and left.