Term | Definition |
Anatomical Position | Erect, with palms and feet forward. |
Frontal Plane | Divides posterior/ anterior (coronal) |
Sagittal Plane | Divides right/left |
Transverse Plane | Divides superior/ inferior (horizontal) |
Superior | Above in trunk or head |
Inferior | Below in trunk or head |
Proximal | Relatively close to the attachment |
Distal | Relatively far from the attachment |
Anterior | In front of |
Posterior | Behind |
Medial | Relatively close to the midline |
Lateral | Relatively far from the midline |
Midline | Imaginary vertical line following the midsagittal plane |
Superficial | Around |
Deep | Within |
Prone | Face down |
Supine | Face up |
Unilateral | Pertaining to one side |
Bilateral | Pertaining to both sides |
Ipsilateral | Pertaining to the same side |
Contralateral | Pertaining to the opposite side |
Flexion | Sagittal; decreases the angle of a joint |
Extension | Sagittal; increases angle of a joint |
Hyperextension | Sagittal; extends joint past 180 degrees |
Dorsiflexion | Sagittal; toe up |
Plantar Flexion | Sagittal; toe down |
Adduction | Coronal; move towards midline |
Abduction | Coronal; move away from midline |
Ulnar Deviation | Coronal; wrist adduction |
Radial Deviation | Coronal; wrist abduction |
Ankle Inversion | Coronal; ankle adduction |
Ankle Eversion | Coronal; ankle abduction |
Circumduction | Biplanar; (flexion/extension)+(abduction/adduction) |
Elevation | Coronal; move up |
Depression | Coronal; move down |
Rotation | Transverse; spin on axis |
Supination/ Pronation | Transverse; elbow rotation |
Protraction | Sagittal; forward |
Retraction | Sagittal; backward |
Opposition | Awesome thumb action |
Abrasion | Minor wound involving rubbing off or scraping of skin's surface |
Acclimatization | Process of the body physiologically adapting to an unfamiliar environment such as altitude or temperature |
Acute | Sudden onset |
Aerobic | Exercise involving oxygen |
Amnesia | Lack or loss of memory de to trauma, shock, fatigue, or illness |
Anaerobic | Exercise not involving oxygen |
Analgesic | Pain-killer |
Articulation | Site at which bones meet |
Atrophy | Wasting away of tissue due to lack of use thus decreasing size |
Avulsion | Tearing or pulling away of tissue |
Bursa | Fluid-filled joint sack; reduces friction |
Bursitis | Inflammation of the bursa |
Cartilage | Padding between bones |
Chronic | Of long duration |
Constriction | Pinching off or becoming smaller; contracting |
Contraindicate | To advise against |
Contralateral | On opposite side |
Contusion | Crushing injury usually resulting in a bruise |
Crepitus | Crackling sound or feeling |
Cryotherapy | Treatment involving cold |
Cyanosis | Blueness due to lack of oxygen |
Diagnosis | Label given to a certain condition by a professional |
Dilation | State of becoming enlarged |
Dislocation | Removal of a bone from its joint |
Ecchymosis | Discoloration |
Edema | Widespread swelling due to accumulation of fluid in a cavity |
Effusion | Localized swelling in a joint |
Fracture | A break in a bone |
Hematoma | Swelling composed of blood |
Hydrotherapy | Treatment involving water |
Incision | Cut w/ sharp knife |
Indicate | Advise |
Inflammation | The body's natural reaction to injury involving redness, swelling, heat, pain, sometimes loss of function |
Innervate | To supply with nerves |
Joint laxity | Degree of joint looseness |
Laceration | Jagged tear or cut |
Ligament | Tissue that connects bone to bone |
Mechanism of injury | Means by which an injury occurs |
Modality | Method for treatment |
Palpation | Examination by touch |
Point tenderness | Pain at a point |
Prognosis | Predicted outcome of a condition |
Proprioception | Sense of body's position in space |
Range of Motion | Movement of joints around a central point |
Reduction | Putting a bone back into it's normal position |
Referred pain | Pain that occurs away from the injury site |
Separation | Pulling apart of a non-moveable joint |
Shock | Failure of the cardiovascular system to circulate enough blood |
Sprain | Stretching or tearing of ligaments |
Strain | Stretching or tearing of muscles or tendons |
Subluxation | Partial dislocation |
Tendon | Tissue connecting muscle to bone |
Thermotherapy | Treatment involving heat |
Valgus | Distal segment is lateral |
Varus | Distal segment is medial |
Vasoconstrictor | Agent causing constriction of blood vessels |
Vasodilator | Agent causing dilation of blood vessels |