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anatomic
anatomical position
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
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body planes
reference planes for indicating the location or direction of body parts
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coronal plane
frontal plane
vertical division of the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions
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sagittal plane
vertical division of the body into right and left portions
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transverse plane
horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions
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anterior (A)
ventral
front of the body
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posterior (P)
dorsal
back of the body
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anterior-posterior (AP)
from front to back, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray
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posterior- anterior (PA)
from back to front, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray beam
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superior
cephalic
situated above another structure, toward the head
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inferior
caudal
situated below another structure, away from the head
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proximal
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
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distal
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
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medial
toward the middle (midline)
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axis
the imaginary line that runs through the center of the body or a body part
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erect
normal standing position
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decubitus
lying down, especially in a bed; lateral decubitus is lying on the side (decubitus = to lie down)
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prone
lying face down and flat
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supine
horizontal recumbent; lying flat on the back ("on the spine")
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flexion
bending at the joint so that the angle between the bones is decreased
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extension
straightening at the joint so that the angle between the bones is increased
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abduction
movement away from the body
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adduction
movement toward the body
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rotation
circular movement around an axis
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eversion
turning outward, i.e., of a foot
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inversion
turning inward, i.e., of a foot
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supination
turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) upward or forward
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pronation
turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) downward or backward
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dorsiflexion
bending of the foot or the toes upward
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plantar flexion
bending of the sole of the foot by curling the toes toward the ground
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range of motion (ROM)
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
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goniometer
instrument used to measure joint angles (gonio = angle)
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