Anatomical Terms

• Lateral Flexion


  Bending the spine away from the medial line of the body
• Protraction

  Anterior movement of the arm at the shoulder
• Retraction

  Posterior movement of the arm at the shoulder
• Supination


  Rotating the forearm so that the palm of the hand faces upwards
• Pronation


  Rotating the forearm so that the palm of the hand faces downwards
• Medial Rotation


  Rotating a limb towards the medial line of the body
• Lateral Rotation


  Rotating a limb away from the medial line of the body
• Adduction


  Moving a limb towards the medial line of the body
• Abduction


  Moving a limb away from the medial line of the body
• Inversion


  Rotating the ankle so that the toes face inward
• Eversion


  Rotating the ankle so that the toes face outwards
• Depression


  Moving a body part in a inferior direction
• Elevation


  Moving a body part in a superior direction
• Distal


  Body part further away from the attachment point
• Proximal


  Body part closer to the attachment point
• Superior

  Higher on the body Compared to something else
• Inferior


  Lower on the body compared to something else
• Dorsi-Flexion


  When toes are pointing upwards
• Plantar-Flexion


  When toes are pointed downward
• Extension


  When the angle of a joint is increased
• Flexion


  When the angle of a joint in decreased
• The anatomical position

  When the head, palms and toes are all facing forward
• Posterior View


  A view from the back or something at the back
• Anterior View


  A view from the front or something at the front