Introduction to Anatomy Vocabulary on NovaNET

1. frontal plane- A plane parallel to the long axis of the body and perpendicular to the sagittal plane that separates the body into front and back portions.
2. sagittal plane- A longitudinal plane that divides the body of a bilaterally symmetrical animal into right and left sections.
3. Transverse plane- a plane across the body at right angles to the coronal and sagittal plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a body or object; also, a plane dividing the body into an upper and lower section; also called horizontal plane.
4. Medial- near the median plane.
5. superficial- near the surface
6. Superior- higher in place or position; situated above another.
7. Inferior- lower in place or position; situated beneath another.
8. Anterior- pertaining to or toward the front plane of the body, equivalent to the ventral surface of quadrupeds.
9. Posterior- pertaining to or toward the back plane of the body, equivalent to the dorsal surface of quadrupeds.
10. distal- situated away from the point of origin or attachment, as of a limb or bone; terminal.
11. proximal- situated toward the point of origin or attachment, as of a limb or bone
12. flexion- the act of bending a limb.
13. extension- the act of straightening a limb.
14. pronation- rotation of the hand or forearm so that the surface of the palm is facing downward or toward the back
15. supine- lying face or front upward
16. abduction- moving of a body part away from the central axis of the body
17. adduction- To draw inward toward the median axis of the body or toward an adjacent part or limb.
18. circumduction- The circular movement of a limb such that the distal end of the limb delineates an arc.
19. inversion- the turning inward of a part, as the foot.
20. eversion- a turning or being turned outward or inside out.
21. elevation- the height to which something is elevated or to which it rises
22. depression- a depressed or sunken place or part; an area lower than the surrounding surface., or sadness; gloom; dejection
23. anatomical position- position of the body with the face directed forward, the arms at the side, and the palms of the hands facing forward, used as a reference in describing the relation of body parts to one another.
24. dorsal- situated on or toward the upper side of the body, equivalent to the back, or posterior, in humans.
25. ventral- situated on or toward the lower, abdominal plane of the body; equivalent to the front, or anterior, in humans.
26. interior- the internal or inner part; inside
27. exterior- outer; being on the outer side
28. peripheral- near the surface or outside of; external
29. lateral- near the side