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.