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