A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A
acetabulum
rounded cavity on outside surface of coxal bone, head of femur articulates with acetabulum to coxal joint, i.e. hip joint
abduction
Moving a level away from the midline of the body.
adduction
Moving a lever towards the midline of the body.
Anatomical position
Standing, feet apart, toes pointed foward, palms facing forward by sides of body. All movements are made with reference to this position.
antagonist
muscle that performs opposite action of prime movers and synergist muscles
anterior
Front of the body.
anterior tilt of pelvis
tilt where vertical plane through ASIS, anterior superior iliac spine, are anterior to vertical plane through symphysis publis
arm
portion of upper limb between shoulder and elbow joints
articular facet
small articular surface of bone, especially vertebrae
articular process
small flat projection found on surfaces of arches of vertebrae on either side incorporating the articular surface
atlas
first cervical vertebrae, articulating with occipital bone
axis
second cervical vertebrae
Top

B
bilateral
two sides
Top

C
caudal
downward, away from the head, towards tail
cephalic
toward the head
concentric
The shortening of a muscle during contraction.
condyle
rounded articular surface at the extremity of a bone
contraction
increase in muscle tension with or without change in overall length
coronal plane/ frontal plane
Plane that divides the body into an anterior and posterior halves.
coronal axis
line perpendicular to coronal plane
cranial
upward, towards head
Top

D
deep
Muslces cloest to the middle of the body.
distal
Point of muscle of bone farthest away from midpoint of body.
dorsal
relating to the back; posterior
Top

E
eccentric muscle contraction
overall lengthening of muscle while contracting or resisting a workload
extension
Increasing the angle of a joint.
Top

F
facet
small plane or concave surface
flexion
Decreasing the angle at a joint.
Top

H
hyperextension
Increasing the angle at a joint beyond its range of motion.
Top

I
inferior
Used with reference with another body part. Below another body part.
isometric
Muscle length does not change during contraction.
isotonic
When a muscle changes in length during contraction.
Top

L
lateral
Farther away from the midline of the body.
ligament
a fibrous connective tissue that connects bone to bone
Top

M
medial
Close to the midline of the body.
Top

P
posterior
Back of the body.
proximal
Point of muscle or bone closest to the midpoint of the body.
Top

S
sagittal plane
Plane that divides the body into a left and right halves.
superficial
Muscles closest to the surface of the body.
superior
Used with reference with another body part. Above another body part.
Top

T
tendon
a fibrous tissue connecting skeletal muscle to bone.
transverse plane
plane that divides the bodey into a superior and inferior halves.
Top