Anatomical Terms

• median - vertical line that divides body into left & right halves
• sagittal - vertical planes passing through body but parallel to the median plane
• frontal - vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior, at right angle to median plane
• transverse - horizontal planes dividing body into superior and inferior halves

towards the feet or tail region

towards the head or cranium

a structure that is nearer to the median plane of the body

a structure that is farther away from the median plane

superior aspect of any part that protrudes anteriorly from the body (dorsum of the tongue, nose, foot, penis)

the surface of the hands, feet, and digits opposite the palm/sole

of the hand/fingers corresponding to the palm

surface of the foot/toes corresponding to the toes

nearer to the feet and median plane (ex. anterior part of the ribs)

nearer to the head and farther from median plane

paired structures having right and left members (kidneys)

occurs on the same side of the body as another structure (right thumb & right big toe)

occurs on opposite sides of the body relative to another structure (right vs. left hand)

nearer to the surface

between a superficial and deep surface

farther from the surface

• nearer to trunk/point of origin
• ex. elbow is proximal to wrist, proximal part of artery is its beginning

• farther from trunk/point of origin
• ex. wrist is distal to elbow, distal part of upper limb is the hand

• bending/decreasing the angle between bones or parts of the body
• usually in anterior direction

• straightening/increasing angle between bones or parts of the body
• usually in posterior direction

• flexion at the ankle joint
• ex. walking uphill or lifting front of foot + toes off ground

• bending toes and foot towards ground
• ex. standing on toes

• exntending limb or body part beyond normal limit
• ex. can cause injury such as whiplash of the neck during rear-end collision in car

moving body part away from the median plane of the body

moving body part towards median plane of body

circular movement that results in distal end moving in a circle

turning or revolving part of body around its longitudinal axis

memory device -- you can hold soup in the palm of your hand when the forearm is supinated but are prone to spill it if the forearm is pronated

• moving the sole of the foot laterally away from the median plane
• when this happens, the foot is dorsiflexed

• moving the sole of the foot toward the median plane
• when this happens, the foot is plantarflexed

• pad of the 1st digit (thumb) is brought to another digit
• ex. pinch, button shirt, hold tea cup

movement of thumb from opposition back to its original anatomical position

• movement anteriorly forward
• ex. protruding the mandible (chin), tongue, etc

• movement posteriorly backwards
• ex. retruding mandible, lips, tongue

movement of scapula on thoracic wall which makes shoulder region move forward & backward

• elevation - raises body part superiorly
• depression - lowers body part inferiorly