Medical Terminology Worksheet

Terms:
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.

sagittal plane- A longitudinal plane that divides the body of a bilaterally symmetrical animal into right and left sections.

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

medial- relating to or situated in or extending toward the middle

superficial- being at, on, or near the surface

superior- a. higher in place or position; situated above another.
b. toward the head

inferior- a. lower in place or position; situated beneath another.
b. toward the feet.

anterior- a. Located near or toward the head in lower animals.
b. Located on or near the front of the body in higher animals.
c. Located on or near the front of an organ or on the ventral surface of the body in humans.

posterior- a. (in quadrupeds) pertaining to or toward the rear or caudal end of the body.
b.(in humans and other primates) pertaining to or toward the back plane of the body, equivalent to the dorsal surface of quadrupeds

distal- Anatomically located far from a point of reference, such as an origin or a point of attachment

proximal- Nearer to a point of reference such as an origin, a point of attachment, or the midline of the body

flexion- a. the act of bending a limb.
b. the position that a limb assumes when it is bent.

extension- a. the act of straightening a limb.
b. the position that a limb assumes when it is straightened

pronation- rotation of the hand or forearm so that the surface of the palm is facing downward or toward the back

supine- Lying on the back or having the face upward.

abduction- To draw away from the midline of the body or from an adjacent part or limb

adduction- To draw inward toward the median axis of the body or toward an adjacent part or limb.

circumduction- The circular movement of a limb such that the distal end of the limb delineates an arc.

inversion- the turning inward of a part, as the foot

eversion- the act of turning inside out

elevation- the event of something being raised upward

depression- pushing down

anatomical position- The erect 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

dorsal- situated on or toward the upper side of the body, equivalent to the back, or posterior, in humans

ventral- situated on or toward the lower, abdominal plane of the body; equivalent to the front, or anterior, in humans.

interior- being within; inside of anything; internal; inner; further toward a center

exterior- outer; being on the outer side

peripheral- a. Of the surface or outer part of a body or organ; external.
b. Of, relating to, or being part of the peripheral nervous system.

lateral- of or pertaining to the side; situated at, proceeding from, or directed to a side