Anatomical Directions & Body Planes

Abduction – movement away from the median plane around an anterior-posterior axis with the angle between the displaced parts becoming greater, as in lifting the arm sideward away from the body Action – in physiology, the motions or functions of a part or organ of the body Adduction – movement towards the median plane around an anterior-posterior axis with the angle between the displaced parts becoming lesser, as in bringing the arm sideward against the body

Anatomical Position – the neutral stance of the individual; standing, facing forward with arms at the sides and palms facing forward Anterior or Ventral – the front of the body or body part Circumduction – is movement around the horizontal and longitudinal axis of a joint during which the distal end of the bone circumscribes the base of an imaginary cone and proximal end forms the apex, as in swinging the arms in a circle

Depression (down) – just the opposite, as in lowering the shoulder Distal – farthest from a point of reference (opposite of proximal) Dorsiflexion – the act of drawing the toe or foot toward the dorsal aspect of the proximally conjoined body segment Dorsal – upper surface (e.g. top of foot) Dorsum – the back side of the hand

Elevation (up) – as in lifting the shoulder up Eversion – turning the sole of the foot outward Extension – is the reverse movement during which the angle between the anterior aspects of the displaced parts is increased as in moving the forearm away from the upper arm External or peripheral – means near the surface

External rotation – turning outwardly or away from the midline of the body Flexion – movement around a transverse axis in an anterior-posterior plane with the angle between the anterior aspects of the displaced parts becoming smaller as in bending the forearm toward the arm at the elbow joint Hyper (prefix) – meaning too much Hyperextension – in excess of normal extension

Hyperflexion – in excess of normal flexion Inferior – toward the bottom of the body or body part Insertion – muscle attachment to a bone that moves Internal – refers to a deeper position Internal rotation – the turning of a limb toward the midline of the body Inversion – turning the sole of the foot inward

Lateral – away from the midline of the body Major – means greater or larger Medial – toward the midline of the body Mid sagittal or median – divides the body into equal and symmetrical right and left halves Minor – means lesser or smaller Origin – the fixed end or attachment of muscle

Palmar – ventral aspect of the hand (palm of the hand) Plantar – ventral aspect of the foot (sole of the foot) Plantar flexion – the act of drawing the toe or foot toward the plantar aspect of the proximally conjoined body segment Posterior or dorsal – the back of the body or body part

Pronation – is medial rotation of the forearm as in turning the palm of the hand downward Prone – face down, horizontal position of the body Protraction – (forward) as in bring the shoulder forward Proximal – nearest to the point of attachment, origin or other point of reference

Range of motion (ROM) – the extent to which a body part can move through all of its planes of movement Retraction (backward) – as in pulling the shoulder back and thus bringing the shoulder blades together Superficial – toward the surface of the body Superior – toward the top of the body or body part

Supination – is lateral rotation of the forearm, as in turning the palm of the hand up ward Supine – lying on the back face upward, opposed to prone Valgus – position of a body part that is bent outward Varus – position of a body part that is bent inward

Ventral – bottom surface (opposite of dorsal) Volar – ventral aspect of the hand