Kinesiology Key Terms Flashcards
Abduction
A motion that pulls a structure or part away from the midline of the body
ACL Injury
When the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee is torn or ruptures causing instability, inflammation and joint deterioration
Adduction
A motion that pulls a structure or part towards the midline of the body, or towards the midline of a limb
Amble
A fast walk in which the dog rocks from side to side. The four beats are irregular because the legs on each side are nearly moving simultaneously
Balance
Dynamic control of weight bearing.
Canter
A three-beat gait. Two legs move independently while the other two move as a pair. If the dog initiates the canter off of the right hind leg, then the diagonal pair of the left hind and right fore will make up the second beat of the gait and the left fore will be the last beat.
Circumduction
Body movements that create a complete circle (as opposed to a rotation of less than 360 degrees.)
Conformation
The size, shape and spatial relationship of the various structures of the body that determines the appearance and the style of movement or way of going of an animal. It is also a set of defined standards for a specific breed used to evaluate the structure of the dog in terms of its suitability for a specific task and its approximation to ideal for that breed.
Connective Tissue Matrix
The fluid found between the cells of the body. It is a dynamic mix of proteins and lipids in a solution of water and salts that responds to pressure by creating an electromagnetic wave.
Exhalation
Breathing outward contracts and lowers the ribs
Extension
Bending movement at a joint that results in increased angle between two bones or body surfaces at a joint
External Rotation
Rotation of a body part away from the midline of the body
Flexion
Bending movement at a joint that decreases the angle between two parts
Gait Analysis
Involves watching the animal moving freely or under the control of a handler to get a sense of their comfort and ease while moving
Gallop
Like the walk is a four beat gait. The footfall pattern is similar to the canter, but the diagonal pair contacts the ground at slightly different times.
Golgi Tendon Organ (GTO)
Is found in the musculotendinous junction where the two tissues interface. It specifically measures the tension or amount of load on a muscle, so that it can trigger the muscle to shut-down in the face of overload
Hip Dysplasia
An irregular formation of the coxofemoral joint.
Impulsion
Thrust or energy in forward motion
Inhalation
Breathing inward expands and lifts the ribs
Internal Rotation
Rotation of a body part towards the midline of the body
Lateral Flexion
Flexion to one side and is specific to the axial skeleton, the spinal column, and skull
Muscle Spindle Fiber (MSF)
A bundle of several fibers that are both muscle and nerve in origin. Because of its unique physiology, the MSF can measure the rate and degree of a muscle contraction
Osteochondrosis
A limb disorder that occurs when the articular cartilage or growth plate exhibits pocks or areas of decreased mineralization
Pace
A form of the trot in which the legs on one side of the body move as a pair. This is called a lateral gait
Patellar Luxation
A limb disorder that occurs is when the patella tracks incorrectly, moving either lateral or medial to the trochlear groove of the distal femur
Pelvic Angulation
Measured by drawing an imaginary line from the point of the haunch through the point of the buttock and a horizontal line that passes through the point of the haunch.
Proprioception
The neurological training method the body uses to learn patterns of movement.
Protraction
Cranial (anterior) movement of the limbs.
Rear Assembly
Includes the hip and limb and is measured by looking at the dog from the hind and the side.
Retraction
Caudal (posterior) movement of the limbs.
Rotation
Movement occurs around the circumference of the joint creating a rolling motion. Rotation is limited in quadrupeds. It occurs along the spine and in the limbs.
Shoulder Angulation
The slope of the scapula as it lays on the ribcage.
Stride
All gaits are measured in a unit called a stride. One stride is equal to the time it takes all four legs to pass through the normal footfall pattern of the gait.
Trot
A two-beat gait in which a front and hind leg on opposite sides of the body move together. This is called a diagonal gait and the pair of legs in motion is called the diagonal pair.
Walk
A gait that should have a regular even beat. The walk should be heard as four distinct beats or steps.
