Basics

Question 1

Anterior/Ventral

Answer 1

= front

Question 2

Posterior/Dorsal

Answer 2

= back

Question 3

Lateral

Answer 3

= from the side

Question 4

Sagittal (or longitudinal) plane

Answer 4

divides the body into right and left parts

Question 5

Horizontal (or transverse) plane

Answer 5

divides the body into superior and interior parts

Question 6

Frontal (or coronal) plane

Answer 6

divides the body into the front and back

Question 7

What is the anatomical midline?

Answer 7

an imaginary vertical line that divides the body equally through the middle

Question 8

Medial

Answer 8

= toward the midline of the body

Question 9

Lateral

Answer 9

= away from the midline of the body

Question 10

Intermediate

Answer 10

= between two structures

Question 11

Flexion

Answer 11

bending a joint

Question 12

Extension

Answer 12

straightening a joint

Question 13

Abduction

Answer 13

movement away from the midline of the body

Question 14

Adduction

Answer 14

movement towards the midline of the body

Question 15

Circumduction

Answer 15

movement of a body region in a circular manner (a combined movement)

Question 16

Medial rotation

Answer 16

movement towards the midline of the body (horizontal plane)

Question 17

Lateral rotation

Answer 17

movement away from the midline of the body (horizontal plane)

Question 18

Plantarflexion

Answer 18

movement where the foot points down and away from the leg

Question 19

Dorsiflexion

Answer 19

movement where the foot comes up and towards the leg

Question 20

Inversion

Answer 20

movement of the sole of the foot towards the midline of the body

Question 21

Eversion

Answer 21

movement of the sole of the foot away from the midline of the body

Question 22

Proximal

Answer 22

closer to the origin

Question 23

Distal

Answer 23

further away from the origin

Question 24

Superior/Cephalad

Answer 24

= above (i.e: ‘top’ of femur)

Question 25

Inferior/Caudal

Answer 25

= below (i.e: 'lower' femur)

Question 26

Pronation

Answer 26

= turning your palm posteriorly or interiorly

Question 27

Supination

Answer 27

= turning your palm anteriorly or superiorly (soup = supinate)

Question 28

Oblique plane

Answer 28

a plane that can literally be any type of angle other than horizontal or verticle angle

Question 29

Elevation (of the shoulders)

Answer 29

Lifting the shoulders upwards

Question 30

Insertion

Answer 30

The point where muscle attaches to the moving bone of a joint.

Question 31

Origin

Answer 31

The point where a muscle attaches to a stationary bone of a joint.

Question 32

Protraction

Answer 32

A forward movement of the shoulder or mandible on a plane parallel to the ground.

Question 33

Retraction

Answer 33

A backward movement on a plane parallel to the ground (the opposite of protraction).

Question 34

Depression (of the shoulders)

Answer 34

Dropping of the shoulders downward.