Joint Movement

Flexion

-bending movement, decreases the angle of joint and brings articulating bones closer -bending head toward chest

Plantar Flexion

-depressing the foot -pointing the toes down

Hyperextension

-leaning posteriorly -back bend

Elevation

-lifting a body part superiorly -shrugging shoulders

Dorsiflexion

-lifting the foot so that its superior surface approaches the shin -pointing the toes up

Abduction

-movement of limb away from the midline or median plane of the body, along the frontal plane -raising an arm of thigh laterally

Adduction

-movement of limb toward the body midline -putting a raised arm down

Circumduction

-moving a limb so it describes a cone; distal end moves in a circle, point is stationary -a pitcher winding up to throw a ball

Depression

-moving an elevated part inferiorly -during chewing, when mandible is brought down

Retraction

-pull in toward center -mandible when the jaw is brought in

Protraction

-push out from center -mandible when the jaw is jut out

Extension

-reverse of flexion; same joints, increases angle between joint and straightens a flexed limb -straightening a flexed neck, body trunk, elbow, or knee

Eversion

-sole faces laterally

Inversion

-sole of the foot turns medially

Opposition

-touching of thumb to the tips of the fingers -used for grasping and manipulating objects

Supination

-turning backward; movement of radius around the ulna; palm facing anterior -macarena (dance move)

Pronation

-turning forward; movement of radius around the ulna; palms facing posterior -dribbling a basketball

Rotation

-turning of a bone around its own long axis -shaking head