Terminology
Anatomical directional terminology
Proximal:
- situated nearer to the centre of the body or the point of attachment.
Distal:
- situated away from the centre of the body or from the point of attachment.
Sagittal plane:
- divides the body in a left and right section.
Frontal/coronal plane:
- divides the body in an anterior/front and posterior/back section.
Transverse plane:
- divides the body into upper and lower section.
1
,Planes and Axis of movement
(See the above mentioned link for further detail)
2
, DEFINITIONS OF THE PLANES:
- A sagittal plane is perpendicular to the ground and divides
the body into left and right. The midsagittal or median
plane is in the midline i.e. it would pass through the midline
structures (e.g. navel or spine), and all other sagittal planes
(also referred to as parasagittal planes) are parallel to it.
- A coronal or frontal plane is perpendicular to the ground
and divides the body into dorsal (posterior or back) and
ventral (anterior or front) portions.
- A transverse plane, also known as an a xial plane or
cross-section, divides the body into cranial (head) and
caudal (tail) portions. It is parallel to the ground, which (in
humans) separates the superior from the inferior.
When describing anatomical motion, these planes describe the axis along which an action is
performed. So by moving through the transverse plane, movement travels from head to toe. For
example, if a person jumped directly up and then down, their body would be moving through the
transverse plane in the coronal and sagittal planes.
MOVEMENTS THAT OCCUR IN EACH PLANE:
- Sagittal plane - Flexion and extension
- Coronal/frontal plane - Abduction and adduction
- Transverse plane - Rotational movement
3
Anatomical directional terminology
Proximal:
- situated nearer to the centre of the body or the point of attachment.
Distal:
- situated away from the centre of the body or from the point of attachment.
Sagittal plane:
- divides the body in a left and right section.
Frontal/coronal plane:
- divides the body in an anterior/front and posterior/back section.
Transverse plane:
- divides the body into upper and lower section.
1
,Planes and Axis of movement
(See the above mentioned link for further detail)
2
, DEFINITIONS OF THE PLANES:
- A sagittal plane is perpendicular to the ground and divides
the body into left and right. The midsagittal or median
plane is in the midline i.e. it would pass through the midline
structures (e.g. navel or spine), and all other sagittal planes
(also referred to as parasagittal planes) are parallel to it.
- A coronal or frontal plane is perpendicular to the ground
and divides the body into dorsal (posterior or back) and
ventral (anterior or front) portions.
- A transverse plane, also known as an a xial plane or
cross-section, divides the body into cranial (head) and
caudal (tail) portions. It is parallel to the ground, which (in
humans) separates the superior from the inferior.
When describing anatomical motion, these planes describe the axis along which an action is
performed. So by moving through the transverse plane, movement travels from head to toe. For
example, if a person jumped directly up and then down, their body would be moving through the
transverse plane in the coronal and sagittal planes.
MOVEMENTS THAT OCCUR IN EACH PLANE:
- Sagittal plane - Flexion and extension
- Coronal/frontal plane - Abduction and adduction
- Transverse plane - Rotational movement
3
