movement

opposition

movement of the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint (between trapezium and metacarpal of thumb) where thumb moves across the palm to touch the tips of the fingers on the same hand (gives ability to grasp objects)

dorsiflexion

stand on heels—point toes toward head

rotation

a bone revolves around its own longitudinal axis Example: turning head from side-to-side at the atlanto-axial joint (between C1 and C2) when you shake head "no"

plantar flexion

point toes toward the ground

elevation

superior movement of a body part (closing mouth, shrugging shoulders)

pronation

the palm is turned posteriorly

lateral (external) rotation

limb is turned away from the midline

flexion

a decrease in angle between articulating bones occurring at the sagittal plane Examples: bending head toward chest, bending trunk forward (crunches), moving humerus forward at the shoulder joint (bending elbow), moving palm toward forearm (wrist curls), bending digits (making a fist), moving the femur forward at the hip joint (walking), moving the heel toward the buttock (bending the knee) Some exceptions (flexion of thumb, movement of trunk sideways to right or left at the waist)

protraction

a movement of a part of the body anteriorly in the transverse plane (thrusting out chin, crossing arms)

retraction

a movement of a protracted part of the body back to the anatomical position (chin in)

eversion

a movement of the sole laterally at the intertarsal joints

extension

an increase in angle occurring at the sagittal plane Example: reverse of flexion

depression

an inferior movement of a part of the body (opening mouth)

hyperextension

continuation of extension beyond the anatomical position Examples: bending head backwards (looking up to stars), bending trunk backwards (backbend), swinging arms backward while walking, preparing to shoot a basketball (palm), moving femur back (walking)

medial (internal) rotation

limb is turned toward midline

abduction

movement of a bone away from the midline occurring in the frontal plane Moving humerus laterally at shoulder joint, moving palm laterally at wrist joint, moving femur laterally at hip joint

adduction

movement of bone toward the midline occurring in the frontal plane Returning abduction movements back to anatomical position Doesn't use midline for digits

circumduction

movement of the distal end of a body part in a circle Continuous sequence of flexion, abduction, extension, adduction, and rotation of joint (or in opposite order) Example: shoulder and hip joints

supination

movement of the forearm at the proximal and distal radioulnar joints in which the palm is turned anteriorly (anatomical position)

inversion

movement of the sole medially at the intertarsal joints (inversion sprain is worse than eversion sprain)

lateral flexion

occurs along the frontal plane and involves the intervertebral joints Example: movement of trunk sideways to right or left at the waist