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Anatomical
Language and
Terminology
It all seems Greek to me!!!!
Often students complain that when they
study anatomy it seems so hard because
it’s like learning a foreign language.
Well, it is!
Most of the anatomical terms you will learn
are Latin or Greek so it may take some
time and effort to learn them
Basic terms
In the following pictures look for the
following terms and their meanings:
1. Digits
6. Sternal
2. Abdominal
7. Thoracic
3. Oral
8. Axillary
4. Carpal
9. Coxal
5. Brachial
10. Hallux
Some
common
anatomical
terms
Some more terms
In the following pictures look for the
following terms and their meanings;
1.Occipital
2. Gluteal
3. Popliteal
4. Plantar
5. Sacral
6. Lumbar
7. Cervical
8. Dorsal
9. Vertebral
10. Perineal
Some
more
common
anatomical
terms
Which is my front and which is
my back???
There are many terms which refer to the
alignment of one body part to another.
These allow us to describe the location of
muscles and other structures as well as
allowing us to describe body orientation
Basic terms
Term
Meaning
Anterior
The front of the body or towards
the front
The back of the body or towards
the back
The inner side or towards the
middle of the body
The outer side or towards the
outside of the body
Posterior
Medial
Lateral
Some examples….
The chest is anterior to back.
The buttocks are posterior to the
stomach.
The breastbone (sternum) is a
medial structure.
An ear is lateral to the nose.
Superior
Towards the head or the top of the
body, or being on top
Inferior
Towards the feet or the bottom of
the body, or being underneath
Proximal
Closer to the origin of the body part
Distal
Further away from the origin of the
body part
Superficial
Towards the body’s surface
Deep
Away from the surface
Some examples….
The head is superior to the neck.
The navel is inferior to the chest
The elbow is proximal to the wrist.
The foot is distal to the knee.
The skin is superficial to the bones.
The lungs are deep to the ribs.
Learning Tools
On a friend point to:
- the superior part of their arm;
- their posterior trunk;
- the distal part of the leg;
- the superficial abdominal muscles.
The body in space……
There are terms which describe body
alignment and body position.
Look at the following picture.
We move in three dimensions
As we swing our arms forward and backwards
we move in the sagittal plane.
As we take arms out to the side we move in the
frontal plane.
As we twist our hips in and out we move in the
transverse plane.
Movements mean Action !
Please refer to the video
for
demonstrations of different
movements.
Learning Tools
Practise these movements with the video.
Movements
1. Abduction / Adduction
Abduction is taking the body part away from the
middle of the body.
Adduction is moving the body part towards the
middle of the body.
These movements occur in the frontal plane.
Abduction and Adduction
2. Flexion/ Extension
Flexion is when we bring the front surfaces
together
Extension is moving the body part backwards.
The exception is with the knee ankle and toes, due
to development in utero the opposite applies to
the lower limb.
These movements occur in the sagittal plane.
Flexion and Extension
Flexion and extension in the
knee
Flexion and extension in the ankle
In the ankle, flexion is called plantarflexion
and extension is called dorsiflexion
3. Circumduction
Circumduction is when we move a joint
around and around. The shoulder is able
to be moved in such a way.
4. Medial / Internal Rotation –
Lateral External Rotation
Medial or internal rotation is when we twist a joint in
towards the body
Lateral or external rotation is when we twist a joint
away from the body
Medial and Lateral Rotation
Medial rotation is when you take your hand
towards to stomach, lateral rotation is when you
take the hand away.
5. Inversion and Eversion
Inversion and eversion are terms used to
describe movement of the foot. Twisting the foot
in is called inversion whilst twisting the foot out is
called eversion
Inversion and Eversion
6. Pronation and Supination
Pronation and supination are the terms
which describe the movement of the
forearm. Supination is the movement
which allows the palm of the hand to face
upwards whilst pronation of the forearm
allows the palm of the hand to face
downwards.
Pronation and Supination
Learning tools
Types of Contractions
Muscles can contract in different ways:1.
Concentric contractions
2.
Eccentric contractions
3.
Isometric contractions
Concentric contractions
A muscle contracts concentrically when it
shortens its length and generates power.
Some examples of a concentric
contraction are a biceps curl, a hamstrings
curl and doing triceps extensions.
Eccentric contractions
A muscle contracts eccentrically when it
lengthens as it generates strength and
power.
Some examples of an eccentric contraction
are squats (as you lower down) and
negative reps” exercises in the gym where
you lower weights slowly against gravity or
lower your bodyweight down a stair.
Some examples of concentric
and eccentric contractions
Isometric contractions
A muscle contracts isometrically when it
stays at the same length as it generates
strength and power.
Some examples of isometric contraction
are when you are attempting to lift or move
an immoveable object and when you hold
a weight still at arm's length.
An example of an isometric
contractions