Anatomical Directional Terminology

1. Anatomical Directional Terminology Kinesiology 100

2. Anatomical directions

3. Anatomical directions • Anterior: in front or in the front part • Contralateral: pertaining or relating to the opposite side • Distal: situated away from the center or midline of the body, or from the point of origin • Dorsal: relating to the back, posterior • Inferior: below in relation to another structure • Ipsilateral: on the same side • Lateral: on or to the side, outside, farther from the median or midsaggital plane

4. Anatomical directions • Medial: relating to the middle or center, nearer to the medial or midsaggital plane • Posterior: behind, in back, or in the rear • Prone: the body lying face downward, stomach lying • Proximal: nearest the trunk or the point of origin • Superior: (supra) above in relation to another structure, higher • Supine: lying on the back, face upward position of the body • Ventral: relating to the belly or abdomen

5. Planes of Motion

6. Planes of Motion • Transverse (or Horizontal): divides the body horizontally into superior and inferior halves • Generally, rotational movements such as pronation, supination, & spinal rotation occur in this plane • Frontal (or Lateral): bisects the body laterally from side to side. It divides it into front and back halves • Abduction, adduction, & spinal lateral flexion occur in this plane • Saggital (or Anteroposterior): bisects the body from front to back. It divides it into right and left halves • Generally, flexion & extension movements occur in this plane

7. Movement in Joints

8. Movement in Joints • Abduction: lateral movement away from the midline of the trunk • Adduction: movement medially toward the midline of the trunk • Flexion: bending movement that results in a decrease of the angle of a joint by bringing bones together • Extension: straightening movement that results in an increase of the angle in a joint by moving bones apart • Circumduction: circular movement of a limb that describes a cone, combining the movements of flexion, extension, abduction, & adduction • External rotation: rotary movement around the longitudinal axis of a bone away from the midline of the body • Internal rotation: rotary movement around the longitudinal axis of a bone toward the midline of the body

9. Movement in Joints • Ankle & Foot: • Eversion: turning the soul of the foot outward or laterally • Inversion: turning the soul of the foot inward or medially • Dorsal flexion: flexion movement of the ankle that results in the top of foot moving toward the anterior tibia bone • Plantar flexion: extension movement of the ankle that results in the foot and or toes moving away from the body • Radioulnar joint: • Pronation: internally rotating the radius where it lies diagonally across the ulna, resulting in the palm-down position of the forearm • Supination: externally rotating the radius where it lies parallel to the ulna, resulting in the palm-up position of the forearm

10. Movement in Joints • Shoulder girdle & shoulder joint: • Depression: inferior movement of the shoulder girdle • Elevation: superior movement of the shoulder girdle • Protraction: forward movement of the shoulder girdle from the spine • Retraction: backward movement of the shoulder girdle toward the spine • Spine: • Lateral flexion (side bending): movement of the head and or trunk laterally away from the midline • Reduction: return of the spinal column to the anatomic position from lateral flexion

11. Types of Joints