Medical Anatomy: Movement Terms

Dorsiflexion

Ankle movement bringing the foot toward the shin

Plantar Flexion

Ankle movement pointing the foot downward

Flexion

Bending of a joint or decreasing the angle between two bones

Hyperextension

Excessive extension of the parts of a joint beyond anatomical position

Depression

Lowering a part

Abduction

Moving a body part away from the midline of the body

Adduction

Moving a body part toward the midline of the body

Retraction

Moving a part backward

Elevation

Raising a part

External Rotation

Rotation of the hip or shoulder away from the midline

Internal Rotation

Rotation of the hip or shoulder toward the midline

Extension

Straightening of a joint or increasing the angle between two bones

Circumduction

Tri-planar circular motion at the hip or shoulder

Rotation

Turning on a single axis

Pronation

Turning the arm downward (palm down)

Supination

Turning the arm upward (palm up)

Inversion

Turning the sole of the foot inward

Eversion

Turning the sole of the foot outward