Planes, Axes, and Movements

• Anterior refers to the front surfaces of the body, and posterior refers to the back surfaces of the body when in the anatomical position.
• Superior refers to structures close to the top of the body, and inferior refers to structures closer to the bottom of the body.
• Medial refers to a structure closer to the midline, and lateral refers to a structure farther away from the midline.
• Proximal means toward the point of attachment of the limb to the body, whereas distal means farther away from the point of attachment.
• Superficial means on or close to the surface of the body, whereas deep refers to farther away from the surface of the body.
• The frontal plane is vertical and extends from one side of the body to the other side.
• The transverse/horizontal plane is horizontal and divides the body into upper and lower segments.
• The sagittal plane is vertical and extends from the front of the body to the back.
• The horizontal axis extends from one side of the body to the other.
• The longitudal axis is vertical, running from head to toe.
• The antero-posterior axis extends from the front of the body to the back.
• Flexion is the decreasing of the angle of a joint, whereas extension is the straightening of a joint.
• Adduction is movement towards the midline, whereas abduction is movement away from the midline.
• Supination is the rotation of the wrist so that the palm is facing up, and pronation is the rotation of the wrist in the opposite direction as supination.
• Inversion is the result of standing on the outer edge of your foot, and eversion is the result of standing on the inner edge of your foot.
• Plantar flexion is the movement of pointing your toes, and dorsiflexion is the movement of bending at the ankle to bring the top of your foot closer to your shin.
• External rotation is twisting/turning a body part away from the midline, and internal rotation is twisting/turning a body part towards the midline.
• Elevation is a movement in an upwards direction, and depression is a movement in a downwards direction.
• Protraction is moving in a forward direction, and retraction is moving in a backward direction.
• Opposition is when the thumb comes into contact with the other fingers, and reposition is when the thumb returns to the anatomical position.
• Circumduction is the circular movement of a body part, and is a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.
• All flexion/extension occurs in the sagittal plane.
• All abduction/adduction occurs in the frontal plane.
• All rotation occurs in the transverse/horizontal plane.