Martial Science

I have a tendency to use medical terminology without realising I do, and so I thought it might be helpful for me to provide a glossary. I’ll try to cover all the terms I’m likely to use but I’ll almost certainly forget something. Feel free to shout at me if I use obscure words.

Midline – A line running from the centre of your head down to the ground when viewed face on.
Saggital (plane) – A view from front to back through the midline.
Coronal (plane) – A view from side to side when face on
Axial (plane) – A view from top to bottom
Medial – Towards the midline
Lateral – Away from the midline
Superior – Above
Inferior – Below
Anterior – Towards the front (the side with the face)
Posterior – Towards the back
Distal – further away
Proximal – nearer towards
Abduction – Movement away from the midline
Adduction – Movement towards the midline
Pronate – Rotation of the forearm to place the hand in a palm down position
Suppinate – Rotation of the forearm to place the hand in a palm up position
Rotation – Moving around a fixed axis
Circumduction – To move a limb in a circular manner.
Anatomical Position – Standing face forwards with the arms at the sides, arms suppinated (palms facing front). This is potentially the most important as it gives us a fixed starting point for all actions. The suppination places the bones of the forearm in a parallel position.