1. Anatomy & Kinesiology
Terminology
Jan McElroy PT, MS, PCS 2009

2. Terms Anterior —toward the front of the body (also called Ventral)
These terms can refer to a location (i.e. a position on a bone) or a direction (i.e. a direction of movement)
Anterior —toward the front of the body (also called Ventral)
Posterior —toward the back of the body (also called Dorsal)
Medial —toward the midline of the body
Lateral —away from the midline of the body

3. Terms
Cephalo —a direction; toward the top of the head (also called Cephalic, Superior, or Cranial)
Caudal —a direction: toward the bottom of the body or the feet (also called Inferior )

4. Terms Proximal – nearest the trunk or midline
Distal – farthest from the trunk or midline
Proximal humerus
Distal humerus
Proximal femur
Distal Femur

5. Terms
Internal Rotation --in anatomical position when the rotation around an axis is forward and toward the midline of the body
External Rotation –in anatomical position when the rotation around an axis is backward and away from the midline of the body

6. Planes of Movement A: Frontal Plane B: Sagittal Plane
C:Transverse Plane

7. Planes of Movement A: Frontal Plane — divides the body into a
front half and a back half

8. Movements in the Frontal Plane
Head & neck: lateral flexion (or lateral bending)
Trunk: lateral flexion (or side bending)
Hips: abduction (when the limb moves away from the midline of the body)
adduction (when the limb moves toward the midline of the body)

9. Planes of Movement
B: Sagittal Plane —divides the body into left and right halves

10. Movements in the Sagittal Plane
Head & neck: flexion & extension
Trunk: flexion & extension
Hip: flexion & extension
Knee: flexion & extension
Ankle: dorsiflexion & plantarflexion

11. Sagittal Plane movements
Knee
extension
Knee
flexion
Hip
extension
Hip
flexion
Ankle
dorsiflexion
Ankle
plantarflexion

12. Planes of Movement C: Transverse Plane -- rotation around an axis
(spine, limb, or limb segment)

13. Movement in the Transverse Plane
Head & neck: rotation
Trunk: rotation
Hip: internal rotation (also called medial rotation)
external rotation (also called lateral rotation)
Knee: very minimal internal and
external rotation