Introduction  Why do health care providers use medical terminology?  Medical terminology is a specialized language used by health care providers.  Allows for quick, efficient communication between members of the same profession while minimizing the potential for misunderstandings.

Anatomical Position  Standard reference point in which all positions, movements, and planes are described.  Standing erect, with arms at side, palms facing forward.

Anatomical Body Planes  Body planes are used to describe specific sections or regions of the body.  A “body plane”is an imaginary line drawn through the body which separates it into sections.

Body Planes – Sagittal Plane  Sagittal Plane – divides the body into right and left halves.  Midsagittal or median are names for the plane dividing the body into equal right and left parts

Body Planes – Frontal Plane  Frontal Plane – divides the body into front and back halves.  Also known as the Coronal Plane.

Body Planes – Transverse Plane  Transverse Plane – divides the body into upper and lower halves.

Directional Terminology  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.

Directional Terminology  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.

Directional Terminology  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.

Directional Terminology  Distal  Refers to a structure being further away from the root of the limb than another structure in the limb.  Proximal  Refers to a structure being closer to the root of the limb than another structure in that limb.

Directional Terminology  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.  Ventral (Similar to Anterior)  Towards the front or belly.  Dorsal (Similar to Posterior)  Towards the back.

Directional Terminology  Prone  Lying face down  Supine  Lying face up  Unilateral  Pertaining to one side of the body  Bilateral  Pertaining to both sides of the body

Regions of the Body – The Head  Frontal (forehead)  Temporal (temple)  Orbital (eye)  Nasal (nose)  Buccal (cheek)  Oral (mouth)  Mandibular (lower jaw)  Parietal (sides of the head)  Occipital (back of the head)

Regions of the Body – Anterior Torso  Pectoral (anterior chest)  Abdominal (abdomen)  Pelvic (pelvis)  Inguinal (groin)  Pubic (above genital region)

Regions of the Body – Posterior Torso  Scapular (shoulder blade)  Vertebral (spinal column)  Paraspinal (side of the spine)  Lumbar (lower back)  Sacral (posterior pelvis)  Coccygeal (tailbone)

Regions of the Body – Upper Limb  Deltoid (shoulder)  Acromial (top of shoulder)  Axillary (armpit)  Brachial (upper arm)  Cubital (elbow)  Antecubital (front of elbow)  Antebrachial (forearm)  Carpal (wrist)  Palmar (palm)  Digital (fingers)

Regions of the Body – Lower Limb  Coxal (hip)  Patellar (knee cap)  Fibular (lateral leg)  Gluteal (buttock)  Femoral (thigh)  Popliteal (back of the knee)  Crural (calf)  Tarsal (ankle)  Dorsum (top of the foot)  Plantar (bottom of the foot)  Digital (toes)

Regions of the Vertebrae  Cervical (7 Vertebrae)  Thoracic (12 Vertebrae)  Lumbar (5 Vertebrae)

Anatomical Movements  Flexion  Movement that decreases the angle between two bones; bending a joint.  Extension  Increasing the angle between two bones.

Anatomical Movements  Adduction  Movement of a limb towards the midline of the body.  Abduction  Movement of a limb away from the midline of the body. Describes movement of the limbs ONLY.

Anatomical Movements  Pronation  Turning the forearm downward (palm down).  Supination  Turning the forearm upward (palm up).

Anatomical Movements  Radial Deviation  Turning the wrist towards the radial side.  Ulnar Deviation  Turning the wrist towards the ulnar side.

Anatomical Movements  Opposition  Moving the thumb to touch the fingertips.

Anatomical Movements  Inversion  Turning the sole of the foot inward.  Eversion  Turning the sole of the foot outward.

Anatomical Movements  Dorsiflexion  Ankle movement point the foot/toes upward.  Plantarflexion  Ankle movement pointing the foot down.

Anatomical Movements  External rotation  Rotation of the hip or shoulder toward the midline.  Internal rotation  Rotation of the hip or shoulder away from the midline.

Anatomical Movements  Retraction  Moving a bone backward in the transverse plane.  Protraction  Moving a bone forward in the transverse plane.

Anatomical Movements  Elevation  Raising a bone superiorly.  Depression  Moving a bone inferiorly.

Anatomical Movements  Circumduction  Tri-planar, circular motion at the hip or shoulder.  When the proximal end of a limb remains stationary and the distal point moves in a circle.

Anatomical Movements  Lateral Flexion  Movement of the spine laterally or away from the body’s midline.