Musculoskeletal System Anatomic Position and Terms of Reference

a term of reference that health professionals use when noting body planes, positions, or directions: the person is assumed to be standing upright (erect), facing forward, feet pointed forward and slightly apart, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward; the patient is visualized in this position when applying any other term or reference

reference planes for indicating the location or direction of body parts

vertical division of the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

vertical division of the body into right and left portions

horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions

front of the body

back of the body

from front to back, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray

from back to front, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

situated above another structure, toward the head

situated below another structure, away from the head

toward the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the proximal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area closest to where it attaches to the hip

away from the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the distal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area at the end of the bone near the knee

toward the middle (midline)

toward the side

the imaginary line that runs through the center of the body or a body part

normal standing position

lying down, especially in a bed; lateral decubitus is lying on the side (decubitus = to lie down)

lying face down and flat

lying down

horizontal recumbent; lying flat on the back ("on the spine")

bending at the joint so that the angle between the bones is decreased

straightening at the joint so that the angle between the bones is increased

movement away from the body

movement toward the body

circular movement around an axis

turning outward, i.e., of a foot

turning inward, i.e., of a foot

turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) upward or forward

turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) downward or backward

bending of the foot or the toes upward

bending of the sole of the foot by curling the toes toward the ground

total motion possible in a joint, described by the terms related to body movements (i.e., ability to flex, extend, abduct, or adduct); measured in degrees

instrument used to measure joint angles (gonio = angle)