Anatomical positions/ planes/ movements
Flexion
Bend or decrease the angle between the bones of the joint. Movements of flexion are directed in the sagittal plane. At the ankle joint, flexion is also called plantar flexion
Circumduction
Circular movement permitted to pat ball and socket, condylar, and saddle joints. It consists of the movements of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction performed in sequence.
Proximal
Employed only with reference with the limbs, refers to a structure being closer to the median plane or root of the limb than another structure in the limb.
Distal
Employed only with reference with the limbs, refers to a structure which is farther away from the median plane or root of the limb than another structure in the limb.
Supination
External rotation of the radiohumeral joint. In the foot, it is the combined movements of inversion, adduction around the vertical axis, and plantar flexion.
Extension
In the anatomical position, most joints are relaxed extension. In relation to the anatomical position, movements of extension are directed in the sagittal plane. Extreme, even abnormal extension is called hyperextension. At the wrist and ankle joints, extension is termed dorsiflexion
Pronation
Internal rotation of the radiohumeral joint. In the foot, it is the combined movements of eversion, abduction around the vertical axis, and dorsiflexion. The joints involved in both supination and pronation are the tarsal and ankle joints.
Adduction
Moves a bone toward the midline of the body. In relation to the anatomical position, movements of addiction are directed medially in the coronal plane.
Abduction
Moves bone away from the midline of the body. Movements of abduction are directed laterally in the coronal plane
Superior
Refer to a structure being closer to the head or higher than another structure of the body.
Posterior
Refer to a structure being more in back of another structure in the body. The term " Posterior" is preferred.
Anterior
Refer to a structure being more in front than another structure in the body. The term "Anterior" is preferred.
Inferior
Refers to a structure being closer to the feet or the lower part of the body than another structure in the body.
Medial
Refers to a structure that is closer to the median plane that another structure in the body. "Medial" is not synonymous with "Median"
Lateral
Refers to a structure that is further away from the median plane than another structure in the body.
Frontal
The longitudinal plane dividing the body into equal or unequal front and back parts. In CT and MRI, the term "coronal" is used by radiologists.
Sagittal
The longitudinal plane dividing the body into left and right parts. It is parallel to the median plane and may be applied to the head, torso, and limbs.
Median
The midline, longitudinal plane dividing the head and torso into right/ left halves. The presence of the vertebral column and spinal cord is characteristic of the median plane of the torso. The median plane is the middle sagittal plane.
Ipsilateral, Contralateral
The term "ipsilateral" means "on the same side" "contralateral" means "on the opposite side"
Superficial, Deep
The term "superficial" is synonymous with external, and the term "deep" with internal. Structure closer to the surface of the body is superficial; structure farther away from the surface is deep.
Transverse
The transverse plane dividing the body or body parts into upper and lower segments. This plane is a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal planes. Transverse planes of the body, called axial or transaxial sections by radiologists, are commonly seen in CT and MRI studies of the body.
Rotation
To turn the moving bone about its axis. Rotation toward the body is internal or medial rotation; rotation away from the body is external or lateral rotation.
Inversion
Turns the sole of the foot inward so that the medial border of the foot is elevated
Eversion
Turns the sole of the foot outward so that the lateral border is elevated. Both inversion and eversion occur at subtalar and transverse tarsal joints.
