Directional Terms

Abduction

Latin from ab, meaning of, off away from and ducere, meaning to draw -to move away from the median plane or (regarding digits) the axis of the limb -BODY REGION

Caudal

Latin from cauda, meaning tail -Toward or relatively near the tail -Inferior in humans

Circumduction

Latin from circumducere, meaning to draw around -Movement of a part when outlining the surface of a cone -Seen when an animal (esp horse) paddles of wings when he moves

Cranial

Latin from cranium, meaning head -Toward or relatively near the head -Superior in humans

Distal

Latin from distans, meaning distance -Farther away from any reference point, but usually the main body

Dorsal

Latin from dorsum, meaning back -Near the upper surface of the body, head, or tail. -Posterior in humans -Refers to upper/front part of the limbs distal to the forearm and calf

Lateral

Latin from latus, meaning side -Further from the median plane or midline of the body or structure

Palmar

Latin from palma, meaning palm -Surface of the forepaw (front paws) where pads are located and corresponding surface of carpus/metacarpus -Applies distal to the antebrachium (forearm)

Plantar

Latin from plantare, meaning to plant -Surface of the hindpaw where pads are located and corresponding surface of the tarsus/metatarsus -Applies distal to the crus (calf)

Pronation

Latin from pronus, meaning inclined forward -medial rotation of the paw from the supine position so the pads are on the ground

Proximal

Latin from proximus, meaning next -Near any point of reference, but usually the main body

Rostral

Latin from rostralis, rostrum, meaning beak -Near the nose -Used only on the head

Rotation

Latin from rotare, meaning to turn Movement of a part around the long axis, as in using a screw driver -Direction of rotation is described in terms of movement of the cranial or dorsal surface

Supination

Latin from supinus, meaning lying on the back, face upwards -lateral rotation of the paw so that the pads face medially or dorsally -like when a dog chews on a foreign body in the pad

Ventral

Latin from venter, meaning belly -Near the underside of the body, head, or tial -Anterior in human NEVER used for limbs

Adduction

Latin meaning to draw toward -to move toward the median plane or (regarding digits) the axis of the limb -BODY REGION

Axis

Latin/Greek from axon, meaning axle -central line of the body or limb -Limb: passes between the third and fourth digits of multidigited quadripeds and the middle third digit in humans

Medial

Near the median plane or midline of the body or structure

Plane

a flat surface determined by three points in space

dorsal plane

a plane at right angles to the median and transverse planes which divides the body into dorsal and ventral portions. FRONTAL PLANE in humans

transverse plane

a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the body, head, limb, or organ which divides it into cranial and caudal parts

sagittal plane

any plane parallel to the median plane. This plane divides divides the body into left and right parts. There are INFINITE planes

Extension

movement of a joint in such a way that the flexor angle is decreased -references a joint, NOT a body region

Flexion

movement of a joint in such a way that the flexor angle is increased -references a joint, NOT a body region

median plane (mid sagittal)

plane passing longitudinally through the body or head, dividing it into equal right and left parts. There is only ONE median plane per animal

abaxial

that side of the digit which faces away from the limb's axis

axial

that side of the digit which faces toward the limb's axis