Anatomical Terms

Front 1

Anatomical Position

Back 1

The position in which the peson is standing erect with feet flat on the fllor, upper extermites hanging at the sides, and head, eyes, palms, and toes facing anteriorly.

Front 2

Sagittal Plane

Back 2

A vertical plane dividing the body or an organ into right and left sides.

Front 3

Median Plane

Back 3

Vertical plane dividing the body or an organ into equal right and left halves.

Front 4

Coronal Plane

Back 4

Vertical plane diving the body or an organ into anterior and posterior portions. Also called frontal plane.

Front 5

Horizontal Plane

Back 5

Plane dividing the body or an organ into superior and inferior portions; Sometimes called transverse plane.

Front 6

Anterior

Back 6

Nearer to the front of the body. Ventral.

Front 7

Posterior

Back 7

Nearer to the back of the body. Dorsal.

Front 8

Superior

Back 8

Toward the head or upper part of a structure.

Front 9

Inferior

Back 9

Away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure.

Front 10

Proximal

Back 10

Nearest to the trunk or point of origin.

Front 11

Distal

Back 11

Farthest from the trunk or point of orgin.

Front 12

Medial

Back 12

Nearer to the median plane or midline.

Front 13

Lateral

Back 13

Farther from the median plane or midline.

Front 14

Intermediate

Back 14

Between two structures, e.g. middle finger bones.

Front 15

Ipsilateral

Back 15

On the same side of the body.

Front 16

Contralateral

Back 16

On the opposite side of the body.

Front 17

Palmar

Back 17

Relating to the palm of the hand.

Front 18

Plantar.

Back 18

Relating to the sole of the foot.

Front 19

Superficial

Back 19

On or near the surface.

Front 20

Deep

Back 20

Farther from the surface.

Front 21

Internal

Back 21

Related to the inside; nearer to the center.

Front 22

External

Back 22

Related to the outside; farther from the center.

Front 23

Parietal

Back 23

Relating to the wall of a cavity.

Front 24

Visceral

Back 24

Relating to the organs.

Front 25

Origin

Back 25

Attachment of a muscle to the more fixed part of the skelelton.

Front 26

Insertion

Back 26

Attachment of a muscle to the more movable part of the skeleton.

Front 27

Flexion

Back 27

Decrease in the angle between articulating bones or parts of the body.

Front 28

Extension

Back 28

Increase in the angle between articulating bones or parts of the body.

Front 29

Lateral Flexion

Back 29

Movement of the trunk away from the median plane of the body.

Front 30

Dorsiflexion

Back 30

Upward bending of the foot or toes in the direction of the dorsal surface.

Front 31

Plantar Flexion

Back 31

Downward bending of the foot or toes in the direction of the plantar surface or sole.

Front 32

Abduction

Back 32

Movement away from the midline.

Front 33

Adduction

Back 33

Movement toward the midline.

Front 34

Rotation

Back 34

Movement of a part of the body around its longitudinal axis.

Front 35

Medial Rotation

Back 35

Rotation toward the midline.

Front 36

Lateral Rotation

Back 36

Rotation away from the midline.

Front 37

Circumduction

Back 37

Successive movements of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction to create a circle.

Front 38

Supination

Back 38

Movement of the forearm in which the radius is rotated laterally so that the palm faces anterialy in anatomical position.

Front 39

Pronation

Back 39

Movement of the forearm in which the radius is rotated medially so that the palm faces posteriourly in anatomical position.

Front 40

Inversion

Back 40

Movement of the plantar surface, or sole, of the foot so that it faces toward the midline.

Front 41

Eversion

Back 41

Movement of the plantar surface, or sole, of the foot so that it faces away from the midline.

Front 42

Opposition

Back 42

Movement which brings the thumb pad toward a finger pad.

Front 43

Reposition

Back 43

Movment of the thumb back from opposition to its anatomical position.

Front 44

Protraction

Back 44

Anterior, or forward, movement of the mandible or scapula and shoulder.

Front 45

Retraction

Back 45

Posterior, or backward, movement of the mandible or scapula and shoulder from a protracted position.

Front 46

Elevation

Back 46

Movement of a body part superiorly.

Front 47

Depression

Back 47

Movement of a body part inferiorly.