Anatomical Terminology

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Body

planes

Sagittal plane - vertical plane that divides the body into

right and left parts. Not necessarily down the midline

Parasagittal plane - vertical planes offset from the midline

Midsagittal plane - sagittal

plane that lies exactly on the midline

Coronal plane - vertical plane that divides the body into

anterior and posterior parts

Transverse (axial) plane - horizontal plane that divides the body into

superior and inferior parts

Sections

Longitudinal - cut in the

sagittal plane

Transverse - cut in the transverse plane

Oblique - cut at an angle

Superficial - near to the surface

Intermediate - in between

superficial and deep

Deep - farther from the

surface

Directions

Superior (cranial) - toward

the head or upper portion of the body

Inferior (caudal) - toward

the tail or lower portion of the body

Anterior (ventral) - toward

the front of the body

Posterior (dorsal) - toward

the back of the body

Medial - toward the midline

of the body

Lateral - away from the

midline of the body

Proximal - closer to the

point of attachment on the body

Distal - further from the

point of attachment on the body

Movement

Flexion - bending to decrease

the angle between body parts or bones

Extension - straightening to

increase the angle between body parts or bones

Abduction - moving a body

part away from the midline

Adduction - moving a body

part towards the midline

Medial rotation - rotating

the shoulder or hip towards the midline

Lateral rotation - rotating

the shoulder or hip away from the midline

Elevation - movement in a

superior direction

Depression - movement in an

inferior direction

Pronation - twisting the

forearm so that the palm faces posteriorly

Supination - twisting the

forearm so that the palm faces anteriorly

Dorsiflexion - lifting the

foot in a superior direction

Plantarflexion - moving the

foot in an inferior direction

Eversion - movement of the

sole of the foot away from the midline

Inversion - movement of the

sole of the foot towards the midline

Circumduction - conical

movement of a ball and socket joint, a combination of flexion, extension,

abduction and adduction

Protraction - anterior

movement

Retraction - posterior

movement