Basic Anatomical Terminology in a Nutshell

Basic Anatomical Terminology in a Nutshell

Anatomical Position

• Defines relationships of all structures in the body
• Standing, looking forward, toes parallel (pointed forward)
• Palms facing forward (not most relaxed position) thumb lateral, little finger medial

Anatomical Planes

• Median plane: pass vertically through the body diving body into Right and Left portions. Goes right down the middle, cutting the nose in half.  Becomes the midline / Midsaggital section. Sometimes called “midsaggital” plane as opposed to a sagittal plane which means cuts down the middle only not at the midline.
• Frontal plane: AKA coronal plane. vertical plane divides the body into front and back sections (anterior/posterior).
• Horizontal plane: AKA transverse plane, perpendicular to other 2 planes.  Have upper and lower portions (superior/inferior) & Sometimes called cross-sections.

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1 – frontal; 2 – sagittal; 3 – horizontal​

Terms of orientation

1. Anterior: front of body = ventral.
2. Posterior: the back of the body = dorsal
3. Superior: toward the head = cranial
4. Inferior: toward the feet = caudal
5. Medial: toward the midline
6. Lateral: Away from the midline
7. Internal: toward the core/center
8. External: away from the core/center
9. Superficial: toward the surface
10. Deep: away from the surface
11. Intermediate: between the two
12. Proximal: closer to the point of origin/point of attachment
13. Distal: away from the origin/point of attachment

Terms of Movement

1. Flexion: to move so that you decrease the angle between two bones/bending.
2. Extension: To increase the angle between two bones / straighten
3. Abduction: moving a structure (limb/muscle) away from the midline
4. Adduction: moving a structure toward the midline (“add” = “add to the body”)
5. Rotation: movement around the long axis.  Such as pivoting the head.
6. Circumduction: movement is circular that would scribe a cone, such as a crescent kick
7. Supination: (forearm) = rotation of the forearm so that the palm is turned up
8. Pronation: Rotation of the forearm so that the palm is turned down
9. Dorsiflexion: (ankle) = movement that brings the toes up
10. Plantar flexion: = push toes down
11. Inversion: (ankle) = turning the sole of the foot medially
12. Eversion: = turning the sole of the foot laterally / outward.

Also read:

1. Basic Anatomical Terminology @ TeachMeAnatomy
2. Practice Anatomy tests for free!
3. Best Anatomy books for Medical students
4. Best Anatomy websites & journals
5. Anatomy syllabus in (CBME) in India
6. Anatomy syllabus in Russia & Other CIS
7. Anatomy syllabus in China

Also Watch:

• Anatomical position @ The Noted Anatomist