ANATOMICAL PLANES &
TERMINOLOGY
TERMS OF DIRECTION & POSITION
The Anatomical Position
 Arms down by side
 Palms up
 Head and eyes forward
 Legs parallel
 Feet together
Movement Rules of the Body
 A body movement can be described in terms of the
anatomical plane through which it occurs and the
anatomical axis through which it rotates.
 The General Rule: The axis of rotation is
perpendicular to the plane of movement.
 Anatomical Planes: relates the positions in the
space and are at right angles of each other
The Three Anatomical Planes
 Transverse (Horizontal)
Plane: divides the body into
superior (upper) and inferior
(lower) segments
 Sagital (Medial) Plane:
divides the body into left and
right parts, medial (close to
the midline) and lateral
(further away from the
midline)
 Coronal (Frontal) Plane:
divides the body into
anterior (frontal) and
posterior (rear) segments
Axes of Movements:
The axis of rotation is always perpendicular to the plane of
movement!!
 Anatomical Axis: are used to describe the rotation of
the muscles and bones which takes place.
 Longitudinal (Polar) Axis: is in a “North - South”
relationship to the anatomical position
 Horizontal (Bilateral) Axis is in a “East - West”
relationship to the anatomical position
 Antero-posterior axis: is in a “front to back”
relationship to the anatomical position
Therefore:
 Flexion & Extension – always occur through
medial plane & rotate around the horizontal
axis
 Adduction & Adduction – always occur through
frontal plane & rotate around the anteriorposterior axis
 Medial & Lateral Rotation – always occur
through horizontal plane & rotate around the
polar axis
Anterior/Posterior
Anterior—to be
situated near or
toward the front of
the body
Posterior--to be
situated toward the
back of the body
Superior/Inferior
 Superior—means to be situated toward the upper
part or head of the body, positioned above another
organ or structure
 Inferior—to be situated toward the lower part of
the body or positioned below another organ or
structure
Unilateral/Bilateral
Medial/Lateral
 Unilateral—on one side
 Bilateral—on both sides
 Medial—to be closer to
the midline of the body or a
structure, being internal as
opposed to external
 Lateral—to be farther
away, in the direction of
either side, from the
midline of the body or a
structure
Proximal/Distal
 Proximal: Toward or
nearest the trunk or the
point of origin of a part
 Distal: Away from or
farthest from the trunk
or the point of origin of a
part
How it Looks
Examples
Movement
Axis of Rotation
Plane of Motion
Stride Jump
Anterior-posterior
Frontal
Cart Wheel
Anterior-posterior
Frontal
Elbow Extension
Horizontal
Medial
Nodding Yes
Horizontal
Medial
Tuck
Horizontal
Medial
Somersault
Horizontal
Medial
Twirling
Polar
Horizontal
Shaking Head No
Polar
Horizontal