Joint Terminology

Question 1

Sagittal - Flexion

Answer 1

Flexion - A decrease in the joint angle (i.e. 180- 90) in the sagittal plane (e.g. bending elbow)

Question 2

Sagittal - Extension

Answer 2

Extension - An increase in the joint angle (i.e. 90-180) in the sagittal plane (e.g. extending elbow)

Question 3

Sagittal - Hyperextension

Answer 3

Hyperextension - The joint is extended backwards beyond the anatomical position in the sagittal plane

Question 4

Sagittal - Dorsiflexion

Answer 4

Dorsiflexion - Flexion of the ankle with the dorsal (shoelace) part of the foot moving toward the shin

Question 5

Sagittal - Plantar flexion

Answer 5

Plantar flexion - Extension of the ankle so that the foot is pointed downwards along the sagittal plane

Question 6

Sagittal - Tilts

Answer 6

The forward, backward and lateral tilting (rocking) of the pelvis
Anterior Tilt: the top of the pelvis points forward (e.g. when arching your back)
* Posterior Tilt: the top of the pelvis points backward (e.g. when tucking your tailbone under)
* Lateral Tilt: the top of the pelvis lifts sideways (e.g. hiking your hip bone up to your armpit) NOTE: The lateral tilt happens in the Frontal Plane

Question 7

Frontal/Coronal - Abduction

Answer 7

Movement of a limb sideways away from the midline of the body along the frontal plane

Question 8

Frontal/Coronal - Adduction

Answer 8

Movement of a limb sideways toward the midline of the body along the frontal plane

Question 9

Frontal/Coronal - Elevation

Answer 9

Movement of the scapulae or mandible upwards (e.g. shrugging your shoulders or closing your mouth)

Question 10

Frontal/Coronal - Depression

Answer 10

Movement of scapulae or mandible downwards (e.g. dropping your shoulders or opening your mouth)

Question 11

Frontal/Coronal - Inversion

Answer 11

Movement of the foot so that the sole is turned inward

Question 12

Frontal/Coronal - Eversion

Answer 12

Movement of the foot so that the sole is turned outward

Question 13

Transverse - Rotation

Answer 13

Turning movement of a bone around its own long axis (e.g. turning the head)

Question 14

Transverse - Medial Rotation

Answer 14

Turning movement of a limb toward the midline (e.g. turning the foot inward)

Question 15

Transverse - Lateral rotation

Answer 15

Turning movement of a limb away from the midline (e.g. turning the foot outward)

Question 16

Transverse - Horizontal adduction

Answer 16

Movement of the arms together in the transverse plane (e.g. crossing straight arms in front of the body or performing the up phase of a dumbbell chest fly)

Question 17

Transverse - Horizontal abduction

Answer 17

Movement of the arms apart in the transverse plane (e.g. performing the down-phase of a dumbbell chest fly)

Question 18

Transverse - Supination

Answer 18

• Supination of the forearm occurs when the palm faces upward or forward
• Supination of the ankle occurs when the ankle collapses outward

Question 19

Transverse - Pronation

Answer 19

• Pronation of the forearm occurs when the palm faces downward or backward
• Pronation of the ankle is when the ankle collapses inward

Question 20

Transverse - Protraction

Answer 20

Forward movement in the transverse plane of the scapulae, clavicle or mandible(e.g. rounding your shoulder blades away from each other)

Question 21

Transverse - Retraction

Answer 21

Backward movement in the transverse plane of the scapulae, clavicle or mandible(e.g. squeezing your shoulder blades together)

Question 22

Multi-Planer - Circumduction

Answer 22

A movement that draws a circle at the distal end of the limb

• Combines flexion, extension, abduction, adduction and rotation
• True circumduction only occurs at the hip and shoulder