Terms describing general movements

Question 1

Lateral movement away from the midline of the trunk in the frontal plane. An example is raising the arms or legs to the side horizontally

Answer 1

Abduction

Question 2

Movement medially toward the midline of the trunk in the frontal plane. An example is lowering the arm to the side or the thigh back to the anatomical position

Answer 2

Adduction

Question 3

Bending movement that results in a decrease of the angle in a joint by bringing bones together, usually in the sagittal plane. An example is the elbow joint when the hand is drawn to the shoulder

Answer 3

Flexion

Question 4

Straightening movement that results in aan increase of the angle in a joint by moving bones apart, usually in the sagittal plane. Using the elbow, an example is when the hand moves away from the shoulder

Answer 4

Extension

Question 5

Circular movement of a limb that delineates an arc or describes a cone
combination of flexion, extension, abduction, & adduction
when shoulder joint & hip joint move in a circular fashion around a fixed point
also referred to as circumflexion

Answer 5

Circumduction

Question 6

Movement by a limb through a diagonal plane away from midline of body

Answer 6

Diagonal abduction

Question 7

Movement by a limb through a diagonal plane toward & across midline of body

Answer 7

Diagonal adduction

Question 8

Rotary movement around longitudinal axis of a bone away from midline of body
Occurs in transverse plane
a.k.a. rotation laterally, outward rotation, & lateral rotation

Answer 8

External rotation

Question 9

Rotary movement around longitudinal axis of a bone toward midline of body
Occurs in transverse plane
a.k.a. rotation medially, inward rotation, & medial rotation

Answer 9

Internal rotation