Anatomy

Body position and movement terms

Terminology

When discussing Anatomy:

The terms used assume that the body starts in the anatomical position

Proper position: standing erect, arms at side, palms forward

Body Planes

There are three planes commonly used – sagittal, coronal and transverse. • The Sagittal Plane - a vertical line, divides the body into a left and

right. • The Coronal Plane - a vertical line, divides the body into a front and

back • The Transverse Plane - a horizontal line, divides the body into a top

and bottom

Plane = Different lines used to dissect the human body. Using anatomical planes allows you to orientate yourself, and gain a good spacial awareness of the structure

Anatomical Terms of Location

Medial and Lateral

• Imagine a line in the sagittal plane, splitting the right and left halves evenly. This is the midline. Medial means towards the midline, Lateral means away from the midline.

Ex: the thumb is lateral to the little finger

Terms of location cont.

Superior and Inferior• These terms refer to the vertical axis –

superior means ‘higher’, inferior means ‘lower’.

Ex: The Cranium is superior to the thorax

Terms of location cont.

Proximal and Distal• Proximal and distal are used mainly in the limbs.

They describe the position of a structure with reference to its origin. Proximal means closer to its origin, distal means further away.

Ex: The humerus is proximal to the radius – it is closer to the origin of the arm (shoulder)

Anatomical Terms of MovementFlexion and Extension

These two terms refer to increasing and decreasing the angle between two body parts:

• Flexion refers to a movement that decreases the angle between two body parts. Flexion at the elbow is decreasing the angle between the ulna and the humerus.

• Extension refers to a movement that increases the angle between two body parts. Extension at the elbow is increases the angle between the ulna and the humerus.

Terms of movement cont.Abduction and Adduction

• These terms are used to describe movements towards or away from the midline of the body.

• Abduction is a movement away from the midline

• Adduction is a movement towards the midline

(In fingers and toes, the midline used is not the midline of the body, but of the hand and foot respectively)

Terms of movement cont.

Medial and Lateral Rotation

• This refers to rotating the upper and lower limbs towards and away from the midline, around their long axis.

• Medial rotation is a rotating movement towards the midline.

• Lateral rotation is a rotating movement away from the midline.

Terms of movement cont.

Elevation and Depression

• Elevation refers to movement in a superior direction (e.g shoulder shrug)

• depression refers to movement in an inferior direction

Terms of movement cont.Pronation and Supination This is easily confused with medial and lateral rotation **but the difference is that pronation and supination can occur only when the forearm in semi-flexed.

• Pronation moves the palm of the hand so that it is facing posteriorly (your forearms are pronated when typing on a keyboard).

• Supination moves the palm of the hand so that it is facing anteriorly (your hands are supinated when holding a bowl of soup).

(Term also used incorrectly when referring to the foot)

Terms of movement cont.

Dorsiflexion and Plantar flexion(correct terms for foot)Both these terms describe movement at the ankle.

• Dorsiflexion refers to flexion at the ankle, so that the foot points more inferiorly

• Plantar flexion refers extension at the ankle, so that the foot points more superiorly

Terms of movement cont.A pair of movements unique to humans, these apply to some additional movements that the hand and thumb carry out

Opposition and Reposition

• Opposition brings the thumb and little finger together

• Reposition is a movement that places the thumb and the little finger away from each other