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Median plane (planes of motion)
Dividing the body into right and left halves
Sagittal Plane (planes of motion)
Dividing the body into unequal right and left portions
Coronal Plane (planes of motion)
Dividing the body into front and back portions
Transverse Plane (planes of motion)
Dividing the body into upper and lower portions
Anatomical position
Standing with arms down by side and palms facing forward
Anterior/Ventral (anatomical direction/position)
Front side/in front of
,Posterior/Dorsal (anatomical direction/position)
Backside/in back of
Medial (anatomical direction/position)
Closer to the median plane/towards the midline
Lateral (anatomical direction/position)
Further from the median plane/toward the side
Superior/Cranial (anatomical direction/position)
Above/towards the head
Inferior/Caudal (anatomical direction/position)
Below/towards feet
Proximal (anatomical direction/position)
Closer to the root of the limb or median plane.
Distal (anatomical direction/position)
Further from the root of the limb or median plane
Supine (anatomical direction/position)
Lying on back
, Prone (anatomical direction/position)
Lying on front
Flexion (joint movements)
Movement in an anterior direction for the upper extremities and hip joint, and movement in a
posterior direction for the lower extremities
Extension (joint movements)
Movement in a posterior direction for the upper extremities and hip joint, and movement in an
anterior direction for the lower extremities
Hyperextension (joint movements)
Excessive movement/position in the direction of extension, e.g. knees, lumbar, and cervical
curvatures of the spine
Abduction (joint movements)
Moving AWAY from the midline of the body
Adduction (joint movements)
Moving TOWARDS the midline of the body
Rotation (joint movements)
Turning around the long axis of a bone. Takes place in the transverse plane around the
longitudinal axis.