Anatomy Terms Describing Movement

Question 1

flexion

Answer 1

bones come closer together, joint angles become smaller

Question 2

extension

Answer 2

joint angles become larger, bones move farther away

Question 3

hyperextension

Answer 3

a joint extending beyond the normal range of motion; most often in knees and elbows

Question 4

abduction

Answer 4

moving an arm or leg laterally (out to the sides) and away from the midline

Question 5

adduction

Answer 5

moving an arm or leg away from the sides and in toward the midline

Question 6

medial (internal) rotation

Answer 6

bone is turning inward at the joint

Question 7

lateral (external) rotation

Answer 7

bone is turning outward at the joint

Question 8

rotation

Answer 8

“pure” rotation occurs only in the spine

Question 9

unilateral movement

Answer 9

occurring on one side of the body

Question 10

bilateral movement

Answer 10

muscles on both sides of the body work together

Question 11

lateral flexion

Answer 11

movement only performed by the spine, side bending

Question 12

circumduction

Answer 12

making big circles at the ball-and-socket joints in pelvis and shoulders, combines movement of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction

Question 13

supination

Answer 13

movement that occurs in the forearm and foot; turning the palm to face forward; turning foot inwards

Question 14

pronation

Answer 14

opposite of supination, movement in forearm and foot; turning the palm toward the back; turning the foot out to the side

Question 15

plantar flexion

Answer 15

pointing your toes

Question 16

dorsal flexion

Answer 16

flexing the foot

Question 17

anterior pelvic tilt

Answer 17

pulling your sit bones fo your pelvis towards the back of the body as the hip bones on the front move forward

Question 18

posterior pelvic tilt

Answer 18

pulling your sit bones toward the front of the body as the hip bones on the anterior of the body pull back

Question 19

protraction

Answer 19

shoulder blades moving forward along the back ribs toward the anterior body, scapulae pull away from each other, creating more space between them

Question 20

retraction

Answer 20

pulling the scapulae medially, toward the midline, pulling them closer together toward the spine

Question 21

elevation

Answer 21

pulling scapulae superiorly, toward the top of the body

Question 22

depression

Answer 22

pulling scapulae toward the bottom of the body

Question 23

horizontal flexion

Answer 23

occurs when you abduct the arm at the shoulder, bringing it parallel to the floor, and then move your arm anteriorly, bringing it across the front of your body

Question 24

horizontal extension

Answer 24

hold the arm parallel to the floor then move the arm toward the back of the body