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median
pertaining to or situated in the midline
sagittal
situated in the direction of the sagittal suture; said of an anteroposterior plane or section coinciding with (median sagittal plane) or parallel to the long axis of the body
coronal
pertaining to the crown or the top of the head
transverse
extending from side to side; situated at right angles to the long axis
cranial
pertaining to the cranium
caudal
pertaining to the posterior or distal end
anterior
situated at or directed toward the front
posterior
situated at or directed toward the back
medial
pertaining or situated toward the midline
lateral
pertaining or situated at the side
proximal
nearest to a point of reference, as to a center or median line or to the point of attachment or origin
distal
furthest from a point of reference
artery
a vessel in which blood flows away from the heart, in the systemic circulation carrying oxygenated blood
vein
a vessel in which blood flows toward the heart, in the systemic circulation carrying blood that has given up most of its oxygen
ischemia
deciciency of blood in a part, due to functional constriction or actual obstruction of a blood vessel
axial
line about which a body rotates
appendicular
pertaining to an appendix or appendage; pertaining to the limbs
supination
the act of assuming the supine position (face up, palm up)
pronation
the act of placing or lying prone (face down); applied to the foot, a combination of eversion and abduction, resulting in the lowering of the longitudinal arch
extension
the straightening of a fixed limb
flexion
the act of bending; decreasing of the angle at the joint between two bones
plantar flexion
flexion of the sole of the foot
dorsiflexion
the act of bending a part backward
plantar
pertaining to the sole of the foot
dorsal
directed toward or situated on the back surface (back)
ventral
directed toward or situated on the front surface (belly)
superior
the above surface
inferior
the lower surface
sphincter
a ringlike muscle which closes a natural orifice
agonist
a primary mover muscle
antagonist
a muscle which exerts an action opposite to that of another
origin
a beginning, as of a nerve or blood vessel, or the end of a skeletal muscle that remains relatively fixed when the muscles contract
insertion
attachment, as the site of attachment of a skeletal muscle on the bone that is moved when the muscle contracts
palpate
to feel with the fingers or hand, to determine by use of the tactile senses the physical characteristics of tissues or organs
kinesiology
scientific study of movement of body parts
descending
passing from a higher to a lower place or level
ascending
passing from a lower to a higher place or level
external
exterior, outward
internal
interior, inward
erectus
straight
oblique
slanting, inclined
major
greater in size or importance
minor
smaller in size or importance
retraction
the act of drawing back, or condition of being drawn back
protraction
forwward extension in space or time
elevation
raising to a higher position
depression
a hollow or pit; applied to numerous areas in various tissues of the body where they come in contact with or articulate with other
structures
rotation
process of turning around an axis
abduction
the act of drawing away from a center or median line
adduction
the act of drawing toward a center or median line
longus
long
brevis
short
bi
word element meaning two
tri
word element meaning three
quad
word element meaning four
inversion
a turning inward, or other reversal of normal relationship of a part
eversion
a turning outward
digit
a finger or toe
process
a prominence or projection, as from a bone
tuberosity
an elevation or protuberance
joint
the site of junction or union between two or more bones, especially one that admits of motion of one or more of the components
suture
1) the line or union of adjoining bones of the skull; 2) a
stitch or series of stitches made to secure appostion of the edges of a surgical or accidental wound
ligament
a tough band connecting bones or supporting viscera
tendon
a fibrous cord of connective tissue continuous with the fibers of a muscle and attaching the muscle to bone or cartilage
nucleus
1) a spheroid body within a cell; the core or center of a cell.
2) a mass of gray matter in the central nervous system, especially such a mass marking the central termination of a cerebral nerve
fascia – a band or sheet of tissue investing and connecting muscles
