Anatomical Terms Of Movement Flashcards
What is Flexion?
Refers to movements that decrease the angle between two body parts.
E.g. flexion at the elbow decreases angle between ulna and humerus
What is Extension?
Refers to a movement that increases the angle between two body parts.
E.g. Extension at the elbow increases the angle between ulna and humerus
What is Abduction?
Movement away from the midline.
E.g. abduction of the shoulder raises the arm out to the side of body
What is Adduction?
Movement towards the midline.
E.g. adduction of the hip squeezes the legs together
What is Medial rotation?
Rotational movement towards the midline. Sometimes referred to as internal rotation.
E.g. straight leg rotated to point toes inward (medial rotation of the hip)
What is Lateral rotation?
Rotating movement away from the midline.
Opposite of medial.
E.g. straight leg rotating so toes point outwards
What is Elevation?
Movement in a superior direction (upwards).
E.g. shoulder shrug, close mouth
What is Depression?
Movement in an inferior direction (downwards)
E.g. opening of the mouth
What is Supination?
Movement of the limbs to face upwards.
E.g. turning hand to face palm up
What is Pronation?
Movement of limbs to face downwards.
E.g. flip hand to have palm down. Lying on front body is prone.
What is Dorsiflexion?
Flexion at the ankle so the foot points upwards (superiorly).
What is Plantarflexion?
Extension of the ankle, so the foot points (inferiorly) towards the ground
What is Protraction?
Movement allowing shoulder to move anteriorly.
E.g. reaching out to something
What is Retraction?
Movement which causes shoulder region to move posteriorly.
E.g. picking something up
What does Inversion mean?
Movement at the ankle joint turning the sole towards the median plane.
(turns foot inwards)
What does Eversion mean?
Movement at the ankle joint to turn sole away from the median plane (foot faces outwards/laterally)
What is Opposition?
Movement bringing the thumb and little finger together.
What is Reposition?
Movement that moves the thumb and little finger away from each other.
What is Circumduction?
A conical movement (circular) of a limb.
Can occur at shoulder, hip, and wrist joints.
