Basic Terminology in Anatomy

Anatomical Directions

• Anterior and Posterior: Used to describe the front and back of the body.
• Ventral and Dorsal: Often used for the torso; ventral is the front, dorsal is the back.
• Voler (Palmar) and Dorsal: Used for the hand; voler or palmar is the front, dorsal is the back.
• Medial and Lateral: Medial is towards the midline, lateral is away from the midline.
  • Example: The deltoid is lateral to the sternum.
• Superior and Inferior: Superior is toward the head, inferior is toward the feet.
  • Example: The upper arm is superior to the hand.
• Cranial and Caudal: Cranial is toward the head, caudal is toward the tail or spine (not the feet).
• Superficial and Deep: Superficial is closer to the surface, deep is below the superficial structure.
  • Example: Flexor digitorum profundus is deeper than flexor digitorum superficialis.

Movement Planes and Axes

• Planes of Movement:

  • Sagittal Plane: Divides the body into right and left; associated movements are flexion and extension.
  • Coronal (Frontal) Plane: Divides the body into anterior and posterior; associated movements are abduction and adduction.
  • Transverse (Horizontal) Plane: Divides the body into superior and inferior; associated movement is rotation.

• Axes of Movement: Perpendicular to the planes of movement.

  • Sagittal Axis: Perpendicular to the frontal plane; associated with abduction and adduction.
  • Frontal Axis: Perpendicular to the sagittal plane; associated with flexion and extension.
  • Longitudinal (Vertical) Axis: Perpendicular to the transverse plane; associated with rotation.

• Examples:

  • Sagittal Plane: Flexion and extension (e.g., flexing/extending the head or neck).
  • Frontal Plane: Abduction and adduction (e.g., jumping jacks, side bending).
  • Transverse Plane: Rotation (e.g., checking mirrors while driving, spinning).

Degrees of Freedom

• Definition: The number of planes around a joint.
  • Single Plane Movement: One degree of freedom (e.g., hinge joint).
  • Multi-Plane Movement: Three degrees of freedom (e.g., glenohumeral joint or hip joint).
    • Sagittal Plane: Flexion and extension.
    • Frontal Plane: Abduction and adduction.
    • Transverse Plane: Internal and external rotation.

Summary

• Get familiar with these terms as they will be used throughout the semester and the entire OT curriculum.