Anatomical terms
Last updated: January 13, 2020Standard anatomical position
A standard anatomical position describes the relation of body parts to one another as a person is standing with the body erect, the arms at the side, and the face and palms directed forward.
Standard position terms |
Right/left |
- Refer to the right and left of the patient.
- Sometimes dexter and sinister are used instead of right and left, respectively (e.g., oculus dexter, oculus sinister).
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Anterior |
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Posterior |
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Ventral |
- Front of the embryo before limb rotation
- In humans, corresponds to anterior
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Dorsal |
- Back of the embryo before limb rotation
- In humans, corresponds to posterior
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Superior (position) |
- Above the reference point
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Inferior (position) |
- Below the reference point.
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Cranial |
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Caudal |
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Proximal |
- Towards the reference point or body trunk
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Distal |
- Away from the reference point or body trunk
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Superficial |
- Towards the surface of the body
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Deep |
- Away from the surface of the body
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Medial |
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Lateral |
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Prone |
- Horizontal positioning in which the anterior surface faces downwards
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Supine |
- Horizontal positioning in which the anterior surface faces upwards
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Cranial anatomical terms
Axes and planes

Anatomical axes
Main axes | Definition |
Longitudinal axis |
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Sagittal axis |
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Frontal axis |
- Runs horizontally from left to right
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Anatomical planes
Main planes | Description |
Transverse plane (axial, horizontal) |
- Cross-section that divides the body/structure horizontally into cranial and caudal sections
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Frontal plane (coronal) |
- Runs parallel to the forehead
- Divides the body/structure vertically into anterior and posterior parts
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Sagittal plane (median, longitudinal, anteroposterior) |
- Runs parallel to the sagittal suture
- Divides the body/structure vertically into right and left parts
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Midsagittal plane (median plane): when the sagittal plane runs through the midline of the body axis
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Anatomical terms of motion
General terms |
Extension (motion) |
- Movement increasing the angle between two body parts
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Flexion |
- Movement decreasing the angle between two body parts
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Abduction |
- Movement away from the midline
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Adduction |
- Movement towards the midline
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External rotation |
- Rotation away from the midline
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Internal rotation |
- Rotation towards the midline
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Elevation (motion) |
- Movement in a superior direction
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Depression (motion) |
- Movement in an inferior direction
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Anteversion |
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Retroversion |
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Circumduction |
- Circular motion of a limb
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Extremity-specific |
Dorsiflexion |
- Hand: movement of the hand/fingers toward the dorsal side.
- Foot: movement of the toes/foot towards the shin
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Palmar flexion (volar flexion) |
- Movement of the hand/fingers toward the front of the forearm/hand (palm)
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Pronation |
- Hand/forearm: with the arms extended at the sides, rotation so that the palms are facing posteriorly
- Foot: eversion + dorsiflexion
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Supination |
- Hand/forearm: with the arms extended at the sides, rotation so that the palms are facing anteriorly
- Foot: inversion + plantar flexion
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Opposition (motion) |
- Movement and rotation of the thumb's tip towards that of any other finger
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Reposition |
- Movement and rotation of the thumb's tip away from that of any other finger
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Superior rotation |
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Inferior rotation |
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Protraction |
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Retraction |
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Eversion |
- Movement of the sole of the foot outward (away from the midline)
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Inversion |
- Movement of the sole of the foot inward (toward the midline)
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Plantar flexion |
- Movement of the foot/toes downward toward the sole
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Spine-specific |
Inclination (ventral flexion) |
- Bending the head/torso forward
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Reclination (dorsal extension) |
- Bending the head/torso backward
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Lateral flexion |
- Bending the head/torso sideward
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Rotation |
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Pelvis-specific |
Nutation |
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Counternutation |
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Mandible-specific |
Lateral excursion |
- Movement of the mandible away from the midline
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Medial excursion |
- Movement of the mandible away towards the midline
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Supination is when the palm is turned upward, such as when carrying a bowl of soup! 

References:[1]