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

Posterior The back of the body or towards the back

Medial The inner side or towards the middle of the body

Lateral The outer side or towards the outside of the body

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 / AdductionAbduction 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/ ExtensionFlexion 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 itlengthens as it generates strength and power.Some examples of an eccentric contractionare squats (as you lower down) and negative reps” exercises in the gym whereyou 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