Anatomical Terminologies
Anatomical Terminologies
Terminology
Anatomical Position, Directional Terms and Movements
Anatomical Terms Worksheet
Anatomical Position
• Standing erect, with palms and feet
facing forward
• Is the standard reference point in
which all positions, movements, and
planes are described
Positions and
Directions
Terms of position and direction
describe the position of one
body part relative to another,
usually along one of the three
major body planes
Positions and
Directions
Superior
• Refers to a structure being
closer to the head or higher
than another structure in the
body
Inferior
• Refers to a structure being
closer to the feet or lower
than another structure in the
body
Positions and
Directions
Anterior
• Refers to a structure being
more in front than another
structure in the body
Posterior
• Refers to a structure being
more in back than another
structure in the body
Positions and
Directions
Medial
• Refers to a structure being
closer to the midline or
median plane of the body
than another structure of the
body
Lateral
• Refers to a structure being
farther away from the midline
than another structure of the
body
Positions and
Directions
Distal
(Reference to the extremities only)
• Refers to a structure being
further away from the root of
the limb than another
structure in the limb
Proximal
(Reference to the extremities only)
• Refers to a structure being
closer to the root of the limb
than another structure in that
limb
Distal / Proximal Cont.
• When you divide the
skeleton into Axial (Blue)
and Appendicular (Yellow)
you can better understand
the extremities and their
roots.
Proximal
Distal
Positions and
Directions
Superficial
• Refers to a structure being
closer to the surface of the
body than another structure
Deep
• Refers to a structure being
closer to the core of the body
than another structure
Positions and
Directions
Ventral
• Towards the front or belly
• You Vent out or your nose and mouth.
Dorsal
• Towards the back
• Like the Dorsal fin of a dolphin.
Positions and Directions
Prone
• Lying face down
• Like a Pro Baseball player sliding into Home.
Supine
• Lying face up
• Lying on your spine and you can have soup poured into your mouth.
Unilateral
• Pertaining to one side of the body
Bilateral
• Pertaining to both sides of the body
Anatomical Planes
• Fixed lines of reference
along which the body is
often divided or
sectioned to facilitate
viewing of its structures
Extension
• Straightening a joint or increasing
the angle between two bones
• In the Anatomical Position we are extending our joints
Hyperextension
• Excessive extension of the parts at
a joint beyond anatomical position.
Flexion / Extension / Hyperextension
Movements
Adduction
• Moving a body part towards the
midline of the body
Abduction
• Moving a body part away from the
midline of the body
Movements
Pronation
• Turning the arm or foot
downward
• (palm or sole of the foot -
down)
• Prone
Supination
• Turning the arm or foot
upward
• (palm or sole of the foot - up)
• Supine
Movements
Retraction
• Moving a part backward
Protraction
• Moving a part forward
Elevation
• Raising a part
Depression
• Lowering a part
Movements
Rotation
• Turning on a single axis
Circumduction
• Tri-planar, circular motion
at the hip or shoulder
Internal rotation
• Rotation of the hip or
shoulder toward the
midline
External rotation
• Rotation of the hip or
shoulder away from the
midline
Movements
Lateral Flexion
• Side-bending left or right
Movements of the Foot
Inversion
• Turning the sole of the foot
inward
Eversion
• Turning the sole of the foot
outward
Dorsiflexion
• Ankle movement bringing
the foot towards the shin
Plantarflexion
• Ankle movement pointing
the foot downward
Movements of the Wrist & Thumb
Radial Deviation
• Movement of the wrist towards
the radius or lateral side.
Ulnar Deviation
• Movement of the wrist towards
the ulna or medial side.
Opposition
• Movement of the thumb across
the palm of the hand.
Additional Range of Motion
Regional Terms