The Three Anatomical Planes

Sagittal Plane

A vertical line, divides the body into a left and right

Coronal Plane

A vertical line, divides the body into a front and back

Transverse Plane

A horizontal line, divides the body into a top and bottom

Terms of Location
Anterior

Toward the front of the body

Posterior

Toward the back of the body

Median

Located on the midline of the torso or limbs

Medial

Toward the middle of the body, away from the side

Lateral

Toward the side of the body, away from the middle

Superior

Toward the top, above

Inferior

Toward the bottom, below

Proximal

Situated nearer to the center of the body or the point of attachment

Distal
Deep

Situated away from the center of the body or from the point of attachment
Not visible on the surface, covered with something else

Superficial

Visible on the surface

Subcutaneous

Just below the skin, specifically referring to the bony landmarks

Origin (of a muscle) -Where the muscle attaches to a part of the body that doesn t
move, or moves very little
Insertion (of a muscle) Where the muscle attaches to a part of the body that wil
l move when the muscle pulls
Terms of Movement
Flexion Bending movement that decreases the angle between two parts (e.g bending
the elbow)
Extension Straightening movement that increases the angle between body parts (e.
g straightening the elbow)
Abduction

Movement away from the midline (e.g lift arm up to side)

Adduction

Movement towards the midline (e.g lower arm back to hip)

Medial Rotation
ard)

Rotating movement towards the midline (e.g rotating the knee inw

Lateral Rotation
outward)

Rotating movement away from the midline (e.g rotating the knee

Elevation

Movement in a superior direction (e.g shoulder shrug)

Depression

Movement in an inferior direction (e.g shoulder down)

Protraction

Movement in the anterior direction (e.g shoulder forward)

Retraction

Movement in the posterior direction (e.g shoulder back)

Pronation
Rotate the palm of the hand so that it is facing posteriorly, or down
(e.g typing on a keyboard)
Supination Rotate the palm of the hand so that it is facing anteriorly, or up (e
.g holding a bowl of soup)
Dorsiflexion Flexion of the foot at the ankle so the foot points superiorly, and
rotating the hand so the back of the hand moves closer to the forearm
Plantarflexion

Extension of the foot at the ankle, so the foot points inferiorly

Palmarflexion
arm

Rotating the hand so the palm of the hand moves closer to the fore

Opposition

Bring the thumb and little finger together

Reposition

Move the thumb and little finger away from each other

Circumduction
The circular movement of a limb, a combination of flexion, extensi
on, adduction and abduction
Inversion

Movement which faces the sole of the foot inwards

Eversion

Movement which faces the sole of the foot outwards

Quantity
Bi

Two

Tri

Three

Quad

Four

Size
Minor/Minimus

Small

Major/Maximus/Vastus/Magnus
Brevis

Short

Longus

Long

Great/Large

Pertaining to a Part of the Body

Cephalic/Cranial
Clavicular

Of the Head

Of the Collar bone

Acromial

Of the Shoulder region

Brachial

Of the Arm

Cubital
Carpal

Of the Elbow
Of the Wrist

Abdominal
Pelvic
Pubic

Of the Hipbone
Of the Groin

Geniculate
Pedal
Palmar
Plantar

Of the Stomach region

Of the Knee region

Of the Foot
Of the Palm of the hand
Of the Sole of the foot

Cervical Region

Part of spinal column comprising the neck

Thoracic Region

Part of spinal column comprising the thorax or chest

Lumbar Region
egion

Part of spinal column comprising the dorsal section of umbilical r

Sacral Region

Part of spinal column comprising the pelvic area

Coccyx Region

Part of spinal column comprising the tail bone