directional terms
Term for "toward the head"
Superior
The plane that divides the body into left and right halves
sagittal
Bending a joint, decreasing the angle
Flexion
A patient came in with pain distal from the knee and proximal from the ankle. Where was his pain?
The calf
A physical therapist asks a patient to straighten their bent elbow until their arm is fully straight. What movement is the patient performing?
Extension
Term for toward "the midline"
medial
Plane that divides the body into front and back
Frontal
Moving a limb away from the midline
Abduction
A bullet wound is described as anterior to the heart but posterior to the sternum. Which structure is likely hit?
the heart
A nurse instructs a patient to move their arm from a stretched-out position back toward their body’s midline. What movement is this?
adduction
Opposite of anterior
Posterior
Plane that divides the body into upper and lower sections
Transverse
Turning the palm upward
Supination
An injury is located inferior to the elbow but superior to the wrist. Which general area is affected?
The forearm
The physician notes a rash on the outer side of the patient’s thigh. How would this location be described in anatomical terms?
Lateral
term for "farther from the point of attachment"
Distal
If a CT scan is taken along a frontal plane, which two body sections will be visible?
Anterior and Posterior
Moving the foot so toes point downward
Plantarflexion
A cut is located superficial to the muscles but deep to the skin. Where is the injury?
The tissue
A patient is asked to point their toes upward toward their shin during a range-of-motion exam. What movement is this?
Dorsifelxion
If the skin is compared to the muscle, which is more "superficial"
skin
An MRI is taken along a transverse plane at the level of the abdomen. Which two main sections of the body will be shown?
Superior (upper) section and inferior (lower) section
Circular motion that combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction
Circumduction
A bruise is medial to the shoulder and lateral to the sternum. Which area is injured?
the collarbone
During an exam, the doctor observes swelling in the area below the patient’s ribs. How would this location be described relative to the ribs?
Inferior