Anatomical Position & Movements Flashcards
What is Flexion
Closing a joint (decreasing the angle between two bones) Flexion & extension are defined anteriorly, so we look at what the front of the body is doing
What is Extension
Opening a joint (increasing the angle between two bones) Flexion & extension are defined anteriorly, so we look at what the front of the body is doing
Flexion of Elbow
When you bend your elbow, you’re flexing it (bringing your Humerus closer to your Radius)
Flexion of Knee
When you bend your knee, you’re flexing it (bringing your Tibia & Fibia closer to your Femur)
Flexion of neck
Neck flexion would be to drop your head forwards, bringing your chin down towards the chest, decreasing the angle at the front of the body.
Extension of neck
Extension of neck is going back through neutral and drop your head behind you, increasing the angle at the front of the body
Hip Flexion
When you lift your thigh towards your torso, or hinge your torso towards your thigh, you forward motion means you’re flexing your hip. Again, you’re decreasing the angle at the front of your body. You may hear this being described as “closing your hip”
Hip Extension
When you’re standing straight or extending your hips like in a Couch Stretch or Glute Bridge, you’re “opening your hip”.
Lateral flexion and extension of the spine
Your neck is part of your spine and can flex anteriorly (forwards) and laterally (sideways), and so can the rest of your spine!
Bending to the right means your right side flexes, while the left side extends and vice versa. You can also do inbetween-ers: flexing diagonally! A combination of Anterior & Lateral flexion!
Shoulder Flexion
Lifting your arm up in front of you & up over your head.
Shoulder Extension
Lifting your arm back, behind you.
Shoulder Extension bones
The upper arm bone (humerus) moves closer to the acromion of your scapula – decreasing the angle the same as other flexing movements.
Wrist Flexion
Bring your palm towards your forearm, you’re bending forwards, or anteriorly, defining this direction as flexion.
Wrist Extension
When you move the back of your hand towards your forearm, you’re bending backward and increasing the anterior angle,
Wrist Palmarflexion
Bringing your palm towards your forearm.
Wrist Dorsiflexion
Bringing the back of your hand towards your forearm.
Ankle Dorsiflexion
The top of the foot moving towards your shin/shin moves towards the top of your foot
Plantarflexion
The sole of the foot moves back, and toes point towards the floor (/top of the foot moves away from your shin)
Plantarflexion
The sole of the foot moves back, and toes point towards the floor (/top of the foot moves away from your shin)
Anterior
Front
Anterior Pelvic Tilt.
Posterior
Back
Anterior Pelvic Tilt
Your Pelvis is tilted forwards
Where is Rectus Abdominus relative to the Transverse Abdominus?
The Rectus Abdominus are in front of the Transverse Abdominus.
Posterior Chain
A chain of muscles on the back of your body, e.g. Glutes & Lats.
Your hamstrings are posterior thigh muscles.
Your hamstrings are on the back of your thigh.
Medial
Towards the midline
Lateral
Away from the midline
Lateral Chain
Muscles on the outside edge of your body, away from your midline, e.g. obliques & IT Band.
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)
Ligament on the inside of your knee.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
In the centre of the knee, crossing in front of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)
In the centre of the knee, crossing behind the Anterior Cruciate Ligament.
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)
On the inside of the knee.
Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL)
On the outside of the knee.
Superior
Up towards the head / above
Inferior
Down towards the feet / under
Supraspinatus (rotator cuff muscle)
Above the spine of the scapula
Infraspinatus (rotator cuff muscle)
Under the spine of the scapula
Thoracic Vertebrae are superior to the Lumbar Vertebrae
The Thoracic Vertebrae are above the Lumbar
Your Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL) blends inferiorly to the IT Band
The bottom of the TFL (closest to your feet) turns into your TB Band
Proximal
Closer to the origin point
Requires a limb having an attaching point to the body (or Origin) with the other end not attached, such as your arm, leg
Distal
Away from the origin point
Requires a limb having an attaching point to the body (or Origin) with the other end not attached, such as your arm, leg
Contract
When a muscle shortens
Relax
When a muscle lengthens
Abduction
Moving away from the midline
Adduction
Moving towards the midline
Abduction your limb is being abducted by aliens! Being lifted away from your body!
Adductors muscles
1) Adductor Brevis, 2) Adductor Longus, 3) Adductor Magnus
Three muscles on the inner thigh which help move your leg inwards – toward your midline.
Leg abductor muscles
Lateral, higher up your body, closer to your abs, so the abductors move laterally - away from your body.
Elevation
Lifting/moving upwards
Depression
Dropping/moving downwards
Protraction
Moving Forwards & Out
Only jaw & shoulders
Retraction
Moving Backwards & In
Only jaw & shoulders
Anterolateral
Forwards & Out
Anterior = Forward, Lateral = Outwards…
Posteromedial
Backwards & In
Posterior = Back, Medial = Inwards
Shoulder Protraction
Shoulder blades are forward & outwards on your back, often called “rounded shoulders”.
Shoulder Retraction
Shoulder blades are backward & inwards on your back, often called “pinching your shoulder blades”
Internal Rotation
Rotating in, towards the midline.
External Rotation
Rotating out, away from the midline.
Pronation
To rotate in/down
Supination
To rotate out/up
Foot pronation
It “rolls” in and down towards the floor.
Foot supination
Rolling your foot or palm up away from the floor
Eversion
Tilting the sole of your foot to face outwards (laterally)
Inversion
Tilting the sole of your foot to face inwards (medially)
