Anatomical terms of

position and movement

Professor Dr. Qaiser Inayat
Department of Anatomy
Khyber Medical College
Peshawar

ANATOMY
The term anatomy is derived from the Greek word
anatomne
Ana-means on, upon and tomne means I cut.
Anatomy is defined the study of the structure of body parts
and their relationships to one another

Gross or macroscopic anatomy

Microscopic anatomy
Developmental anatomy
Neuroanatomy anatomy

Gross Anatomy
Regional all structures in one part of the
body (such as the abdomen or leg)
Systemic gross anatomy of the body
studied by system
Surface study of internal structures as
they relate to the overlying skin

Microscopic Anatomy
Cytology study of the cell
Histology study of tissues

Developmental Anatomy
Traces structural changes throughout life
Embryology study of developmental
changes of the body before birth

Levels of Structural Organization

Chemical atoms combined to form molecules
Cellular cells are made of molecules
Tissue consists of similar types of cells
Organ made up of different types of tissues
Organ system consists of different organs that
work closely together
Organism made up of the organ systems

Other disciplines of Anatomy

Functional anatomy: the correlation of the function of an organ or
body part with its structure.
Comparative Anatomy: Comparison of the anatomy of human beings
with the anatomy of the other animals.
Radiological anatomy: the anatomy of different body structures by
various imaging techniques.
Surgical anatomy: the anatomy of different body parts which is of
practical value to the surgeons.
Applied anatomy: application of the knowledge of anatomy in the
diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Levels of Structural Organization

Smooth muscle cell
Molecules
2 Cellular level
Cells are made up of molecules

Atoms

Smooth
muscle
tissue
3 Tissue level
Tissues consist of
similar types of cells

Cardiovascular
system
Epithelial
tissue
Smooth
muscle
tissue
Connective
tissue

4 Organ level
Organs are made up of
different types of tissues

1 Chemical level
Atoms combine to
form molecules

Heart
Blood
vessels

Blood
vessel
(organ)

6 Organismal level
The human organism is
made up of many organ
systems

5 Organ system level

Organ systems consist of different organs that
work together closely
Figure 1.1

Organ Systems of the Body

Integumentary system

Forms the external body covering

Composed of the skin, sweat glands, sebaceous
(oil) glands, hair, and nails
Protects deep tissues from injury and
synthesizes vitamin D

Organ Systems of the Body

Skeletal system

Composed of bone, cartilage, and ligaments

[with the joints they make up]
Protects and supports body organs
Provides the framework for muscles
Site of blood cell formation
Stores minerals

Organ Systems of the Body

Muscular system

Composed of muscles and tendons

Allows manipulation of the environment,
locomotion, and facial expression
Maintains posture
Produces heat

Organ Systems of the Body

Nervous system

Composed of the brain, spinal column, and

nerves
Is the fast-acting control system of the body
Responds to stimuli by activating muscles and
glands

Organ Systems of the Body

Cardiovascular system

Composed of the heart and blood vessels

The heart pumps blood
The blood vessels transport blood throughout
the body

Organ Systems of the Body

Lymphatic system

Composed of red bone marrow, thymus, spleen,

lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels
Picks up fluid leaked from blood vessels and
returns it to blood
Disposes of debris in the lymphatic stream
Houses white blood cells involved with
immunity

Organ Systems of the Body

Respiratory system

Composed of the nasal cavity, pharynx, trachea,

bronchi, and lungs
Keeps blood supplied with oxygen and removes
carbon dioxide

Organ Systems of the Body

Digestive system

Composed of the oral cavity, esophagus,

stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum,
anus, and liver
Breaks down food into absorbable units that
enter the blood
Eliminates indigestible foodstuffs as feces

Organ Systems of the Body

Urinary system

Composed of kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder,

and urethra
Eliminates nitrogenous wastes from the body
Regulates water, electrolyte, and pH balance of
the blood

Organ Systems of the Body

Male reproductive system

Composed of prostate gland, penis, testes,

scrotum, and ductus deferens
Main function is the production of offspring
Testes produce sperm and male sex hormones
Ducts and glands deliver sperm to the female
reproductive tract

Organ Systems of the Body

Female reproductive system

Composed of mammary glands, ovaries, uterine

tubes, uterus, and vagina
Main function is the production of offspring
Ovaries produce eggs and female sex hormones
Remaining structures serve as sites for fertilization
and development of the fetus
Mammary glands produce milk to nourish the
newborn

Organ Systems Interrelationships

The integumentary system
protects the body from the
external environment
Digestive and respiratory
systems, in contact with the
external environment, take in
nutrients and oxygen
Nutrients and oxygen are
distributed by the blood
Metabolic wastes are eliminated
by the urinary and respiratory
systems

Figure 1.2

Anatomical Terms Worksheet

History
During the Renaissance (Rebirth) the study of human life
and medicine began to flourish.
Scientist, Doctors and Artist would experiment and practice on
the dead and incarcerated.
Cadavers were positioned flat on their backs, thus making it
easier to draw and reference from that position.

Many artist such as

da Vinci began to
diagram the human body.

Leonardo
study, draw and

Anatomical Position
Standing erect, with palms
and feet facing forward
Is the standard reference point
in which all positions,
movements, and planes are
described

Anatomical Planes
Fixed lines of reference
along which the body is
often divided or sectioned
to facilitate viewing of its
structures
Allow one to obtain a
three-dimensional
perspective by studying
the body from different
views

Anatomical Planes
Sagittal plane

The plane dividing the

body into right and
left portions
Midsagittal or median
are names for the
plane dividing the
body into equal right
and left halves

Anatomical Planes
Frontal plane

The plane dividing the

body into front and
back portions
Also called the
Coronal plane

Anatomical Planes
Transverse plane

The horizontal plane

dividing the body into
upper and lower
portions
Also called the
Horizontal plane

Positions and
Directions
Terms of position and
direction describe the
position of one body part
relative to another,
usually along one of the
three major body planes

Positions and
Directions
Superior
Refers to a structure being
closer to the head or higher
than another structure in the
body
Inferior
Refers to a structure being
closer to the feet or lower
than another structure in the
body

Positions and
Directions
Anterior
Refers to a structure being
more in front than another
structure in the body
Posterior
Refers to a structure being
more in back than another
structure in the body

Positions and
Directions
Medial
Refers to a structure being
closer to the midline or
median plane of the body
than another structure of the
body
Lateral
Refers to a structure being
farther away from the
midline than another
structure of the body

Positions and
Directions
Distal
(Reference to the extremities only)

Refers to a structure being

further away from the root of
the limb than another structure
in the limb
Proximal
(Reference to the extremities only)

Refers to a structure being

closer to the root of the limb
than another structure in that
limb

Distal / Proximal
Cont.

When you divide the

skeleton into Axial
(Blue) and
Appendicular (Yellow)
you can better
understand the
extremities and their
roots.
Proximal
Distal

Positions and
Directions
Superficial
Refers to a structure being
closer to the surface of the
body than another structure
Deep
Refers to a structure being
closer to the core of the
body than another structure

Positions and
Directions
Ventral
Towards the front or
belly

You Vent out or your nose and mouth.

Dorsal
Towards the back

Like the Dorsal fin of a dolphin.

Humans are bipedal, we walk on two legs,

therefore our Ventral side / Dorsal side flips
at our lower extremities.
Ventral Black

Dorsal White

Ventral Black
Dorsal White

Positions and Directions

Prone
Lying face down

Like a Pro Baseball player sliding into Home.

Supine
Lying face up

Lying on your spine and you can have soup poured into your mouth.

Unilateral
Pertaining to one side of the body
Bilateral
Pertaining to both sides of the body

Movements

Flexion
Extension
Hyperextension
Adduction
Abduction
Prontaion
Supination
Retraction
Protraction
Elevation
Depression
Rotation
Circumduction
External Rotation
Internal Rotation
Inversion
Eversion
Dorsiflexion
Plantarflexion
Radial Deviation
Ulnar Deviation
Opposition

Movements
Flexion
Bending a joint or decreasing the
angle between two bones

In the Fetal Position we are flexing our joints

Extension
Straightening a joint or increasing the
angle between two bones

In the Anatomical Position we are extending our joints

Hyperextension
Excessive extension of the parts at a
joint beyond anatomical position.

Flexion / Extension / Hyperextension

Movements
Adduction
Moving a body part towards
the midline of the body
Abduction
Moving a body part away
from the midline of the body

Movements
Pronation
Turning the arm or foot
downward
(palm or sole of the foot down)

Prone

Supination
Turning the arm or foot
upward
(palm or sole of the foot - up)

Supine

Movements
Retraction
Moving a part backward
Protraction
Moving a part forward
Elevation
Raising a part
Depression
Lowering a part

Movements
Rotation
Turning on a single axis
Circumduction
Tri-planar, circular motion at
the hip or shoulder
External rotation
Rotation of the hip or shoulder
away from the midline
Internal rotation
Rotation of the hip or shoulder
toward the midline

Movements
Lateral Flexion
Side-bending left or
right

Movements of the Foot

Inversion
Turning the sole of the foot inward
Eversion
Turning the sole of the foot
outward
Dorsiflexion
Ankle movement bringing the foot
towards the shin
Plantarflexion
Ankle movement pointing the foot
downward

Movements of the Wrist & Thumb

Radial Deviation
Movement of the wrist towards the
radius or lateral side.
Ulnar Deviation
Movement of the wrist towards the
ulna or medial side.
Opposition
Movement of the thumb across the
palm of the hand.

Additional Range of Motion

Root Words, Prefixes, & Suffixes

Arthro: Joint
Cardio: Heart
Chondro: Cartilage
Neuro: Nerve
Pneumo: Lung
Pyscho: Brain/Mental
Tomy: To Cut/Incision
Plantar: Sole of the foot

Root Words, Prefixes, & Suffixes

Supra/Super: Above
Semi: Half
Palmar: Palm of the Hand
Thermo: Heat
Cryo: Cold
Arterio: Arteries
Cerebro: Brain
Myo: Muscle

Root Words, Prefixes, & Suffixes

Osteo: Bone
Derm: Skin
Sub: Below/beneath
Pseudo: False
Quad: Four
Hyper: Excessive
Brachium: Arm
Phalangeal: Fingers/Toes

Root Words, Prefixes, & Suffixes

Cephalic: Towards the Head
Vertebro: Vertebrae/Spine
A/An: Without/Lack of
Ad: Toward
Bi: Both/Two/Twice
Inter: Between
Hypo: Under/Beneath

Root Words, Prefixes, & Suffixes

Sym/Syn: Joined/fused
Algia: Pain
Itis: Inflammation
Ology: Study of
Pathy: Disease
Uni: One/single
Epi: Above
Ab: Away from

Root Words, Prefixes, & Suffixes

Ante: Before, In Front Of
Co/con: Against
Intra: Within
Peri: Around
Re: Again/Backward
Retro: Behind
Ectomy: Remove
Oma: Tumor

Root Words, Prefixes, & Suffixes

Osis: Condition of
Scopy: Examine
Post: After

Anatomical Terms Worksheet

Anatomical
Terminology
Anatomic position is a
specific body position in
which an individual
stands upright with the
feet parallel and flat on
the floor.
The head is level, and
the eyes look forward
toward the observer.
The arms are at either
side of the body with
the palms facing
forward and the thumbs
pointing away from the
body.

Anatomical Terminology
A plane is an imaginary surface
that slices the body into specific
sections.
The three major anatomic planes
of reference are the coronal,
transverse, and sagittal planes.

Body Planes
Anatomic reference systems describe the location and
functions of body parts. The basic reference systems are: body
planes, body directions, body cavities, and structural units
Body planes are imaginary horizontal and vertical lines used to
divide the body into sections
The use of these planes makes it easier to describe the location
of an organ or problem.

Midline and Bilateral Symetery

The midline, also known
as the midsagittal plane,
is a vertical plane that
divides the body, into
equal left and right
halves.

Transverse Plane
The transverse plane,
also known as the
horizontal plane,
divides the body into
superior (upper) and
inferior (lower)
portions.

Ventral and Dorsal

Ventral refers to the
front or belly side of
the body.
Dorsal refers to the
back of the body.

Superior and Inferior

Superior means uppermost,
above or toward the head. For
example, the lungs are located
superior to (above) the
diaphragm.
Inferior means lowermost,
below or toward the feet. For
example, the stomach is located
inferior to (below) the
diaphragm.

Sections
and Planes
A coronal plane,
also called a frontal
plane, is a vertical
plane that divides
the body into
anterior (front) and
posterior (back)
parts.

Sections
and Planes
A transverse plane,
also called a crosssectional plane or
horizontal plane, cuts
perpendicularly along
the long axis of the
body or organ
separating it into
both superior (upper)
and inferior (lower)
parts.

Sections
and Planes
A sagittal plane
or median plane,
extends through
the body or
organ vertically
and divides the
structure into
right and left
halves.

Planes & Movements

Movements in the sagittal plane around a horizontal axis
(e.g. front roll, back roll, cycling, running)
Flexion
flexion at a joint results in a decrease of the angle
between the two segments that meet at that joint
Extension
extension at a joint results in an increase of the angle
between the two segments that meet at that joint
if the movement occurs beyond the extended position,
the action is called hyperextension

Examples of flexion and

extension

shoulder flexion and extension

elbow flexion and extension
wrist flexion and extension
fingers flexion and extension
hip flexion and extension
knee flexion and extension
ankle dorsi flexion and plantar flexion
tilt of pelvis under
Dorsi flexion: bringing the toes toward the shin
Plantar flexion: pointing the toes away from the shin
(toward the floor)

Planes & Movements

Movements in the frontal plane around a antereoposterior axis
(e.g. cartwheel, jumping jacks, galloping)
Abduction
occurs when a body part is moved away from the midline of
the body
e.g. shoulder, hip, fingers
Adduction
occurs when a body part is moved toward the midline of the
body
e.g. shoulder, hip, fingers
remember add to your midline
e.g. shoulder, hip, fingers

Movements & Planes

Inversion
Turning the sole of the foot inward at the ankle (so the sole of the foot
faces toward the midline)
Eversion
turning the sole of the foot outward at the ankle (so the sole of the foot
faces away from the midline)
Elevation
raising a part to a superior position
e.g. raising your shoulders toward your ears; closing your jaw
Depression
lowering a part to an inferior position
e.g. lowering your shoulders to normal or lower than normal position;
lowering your jaw to an open position

More
Protraction
Sticking jaw out (pouting)
Retraction
Bringing jaw back to anatomical position
Lateral bending
bending of the spinal column in the frontal plane to
the left or right
e.g. bending side to side at the waist

And More
Movements in the transverse plane around a longitudinal axis
(e.g. twist, pirouette)
Rotation
the movement of a bone around its own axis; this is also known as a
pivot
e.g. the head, neck, and trunk can pivot around the longitudinal axis
Internal (medial) rotation
Rotation towards the midline
E.g. turning forearn in towards body
External (lateral) rotation
Rotation away from midline
E.g. turning forearm away from body

More
Pronation
rotation of the forearm and hand to the palms down position
Supination
rotation of the forearm and hand to the palms up position
(remember holding a cup of soup)
Protraction
Shoulder rounding (hunching shoulders)
Retraction
Bringing shoulders back to anatomical position, or
squeezing shoulder blades together at back

Special movements
Circumduction
a combination of abduction, adduction, flexion and
extension
this action describes a circle
e.g. moving the shoulder in a circle (swimming, windmill
throw in baseball); can also be done at the hip joint
Opposition
Bringing thumb towards fingers
Reposition
Returning thumb back to anatomical position

 Topic
General Anatomy
General Embryology
General Histology
Upper Limb
Thorax
Lower Limb

No. of Qs.
5
8
8
10
6
8

 Section
Topic
No. of Qs.
A
General Histology
2
B
General Embryology
2
C
Upper Limb
2

Thorax
2
D
Lower Limb
3

General Anatomy
1
Students have to attempt a total of 9 questions out of
12 selecting at least 1 Qs from each section.