Body OrganizationReview

Planes of the Body• Transverse plane

• Cuts the body into superior and inferior halves.

• 2 movements are internal rotation and external rotation.

• Frontal plane• Cuts the body into anterior and

posterior halves. • 2 movements are abduction and

adduction

• Sagittal plane• Cuts the body into right and left

halves.• 2 movements are flexion and

extension.

Directional Terms • Anterior – front, towards the front.• EX: The sternum is anterior to the

scapula.• Opposite is posterior.

• Posterior – back, towards the back.• EX: The scapula is posterior to the

sternum.• Opposite is anterior.

• Medial – towards the midline.• EX: The pinkie is medial to the thumb.• Opposite is lateral.

• Lateral – away from the midline; towards the side.• EX: The thumb is lateral the pinkie.• Opposite is medial.

• Superior – above; towards the top.• Only used on head and trunk.• EX: The head is superior to the hips.• Opposite is inferior.

• Inferior – below; towards the bottom.• Only used on head and trunk.• EX: The hips are inferior to the head.• Opposite is superior.

• Distal – further away from the trunk or reference point.• Only used on arms and legs.• EX: The wrist is distal to the elbow.• Opposite is proximal.

• Proximal – closer to the trunk or reference point.• Only used on arms and legs.• EX: The elbow is proximal to the wrist.• Opposite is distal.

Movement Terms• Flexion – decreasing the angle of a

joint; sagittal plane.• Extension – increasing the angle of a

joint; sagittal plane.• Abduction – movement away from the

midline; frontal plane.• Adduction – movement away from the

midline; frontal plane.

• Internal Rotation – Rotation towards the midline of the body