Basic Anatomy Terms

TERM DEFINITION EXAMPLE

Anatomical Eyes and feet facing forward;
Position arms at side; palms up

Bi- Two Bicep-two head muscle

Tri- Three Tricep-three head muscle
Midline Straight line through the cent of The line is going through
the body creating two equal The midline of the circle
sides
Lateral Away from the midline or on the Lateral collateral ligament in on
outside the outside of your knee
Medial Toward the midline Medial collateral ligament is on
the inside of your knee
Anterior Front Your face is on the anterior
side of your head
Posterior Back Your heal is on the posterior
side of your foot
Cardio- Having to do with the heart Cardiovascular-heart and lungs
Abduction To move away from the body Fingers spread=abduction
Adduction To move towards the body Fingers together=adduction
External Outer Your skin is an external organ
Internal Inner Your heart is an internal organ
-itis Inflammation of something Bronchitis-inflammation of
bronchioles.
-ology The study of something Zoology-the study of zoo
animals
Superior Above Your head is superior to your
neck
Inferior Below Your feet are inferior to your
knees
Osteo- Having to do with bone Osteoartritis-inflammation of
the bone
Voluntary Can consciously contract; can Moving you arm to catch a ball
control it is a voluntary movement
Involuntary Contracts without thinking about Your heart is an involuntary
it; cannot directly control it muscle. You don’t have to
think about it to make it beat.
Contract To shorten a muscle When you contract you bicep,
the muscle balls up
Extend/Relax To lengthen a muscle When you extend your bicep, it
becomes flatter and longer.