Section 01: Anatomical Terminology

Anatomical planes

Hypothetical planes used to describe the location of structures, and direction of movement. 

Saggital plane: Divides the body into right and left sections (can be uneven). Joint action flexion and extension.

Frontal plane: Divides the body into front and back. Joint action abduction, adduction, lateral flexion. 

Transverse plane: Divides the body into top and bottom. Joint action rotation, horizontal flexion and extension.

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Match Practice Test Progress & Stats

Term	Definition
Anatomical planes	Hypothetical planes used to describe the location of structures, and direction of movement. Saggital plane: Divides the body into right and left sections (can be uneven). Joint action flexion and extension. Frontal plane: Divides the body into front and back. Joint action abduction, adduction, lateral flexion. Transverse plane: Divides the body into top and bottom. Joint action rotation, horizontal flexion and extension.
Anterior	Describes the location of a bodily segment towards the front of the body.
Posterior	Opposite of anterior, describes location of a bodily segment towards the rear of the body.
Inferior	Bodily segment below that of another.
Superior	Bodily segment above that of another.
Medial	Bodily segment that is closer or moves towards the midline of the body.
Lateral	Bodily segment towards the outside of mother or moves towards the outside body.
Proximal	Location of bodily segment being closer to the center point of the body than another.
Distal	Location of an object being further from the body's center point than another.
Supination	Bodily segment facing upwards.
Pronation	Bodily segment facing downwards.
Superficial	Close to the surface of the skin.
Deep	Away from the surface of the skin.
Unilateral	Uni means one, lateral means side. An action taking place on a single side of the body
Bilateral	Bi means two, lateral means side. Action taking place on two or both sides of the body.
Contralateral	An action taking place on the opposite side.
Ipsilateral	Action taking place on a single side of the body.
Flexion	Reducing the joint angle, normally involves bending actions. On horizontal plane its called horizontal flexion
Extension	Increasing the joint action, normally involves a straightening actions. On horizontal plane its called horizontal extension
Lateral flexion	Involves bending to the side (laterally)
Adduction	To move towards the mid/centre line of the body.
Abduction	To move away from the mid/centre line of the body.
Rotation	Two or more bones moving around each other in a circular motion.
Circumduction	Circular movement, usually the movement at the proximal end of the limb is smaller than the distal end.
Elevation	To lift in a vertical plane
Depression	To pull down in a vertical plane
Plantarflextion	To point the toes, extending the ankle
Dorsiflexion	To pull the toes up, flexing the ankle.
Pronation	Movement of the forearm which turns the palm of the hand to face downwards. Or can occur at the ankle, making the knee move medially and the sole of the foot to face laterally.
Supination	Movement of the forearm which causes the palm of the hand to face upwards. When occurring at the ankle knee moves laterally and sole of the foot faces medially.
Inversion	Combination of plantar flexion and supination of the ankle, toes point exposing the sole of the foot medially.
Eversion	Combination of plantar flexion and pronation of the ankle, where the toes are pointed the sole of the foot face laterally.
Protraction	Occurs when a limb or body segment is moved anteriorly (jaw and shoulders).
Retraction	When a limb or body segment is moved posteriorly (jaw and shoulders).