Movement at Synovial Joints

opposition

movement of the thumb at the carpo-metacarpal joint in which the thumb moves across the palm to tough the tips of the finger on the same hand

lateral flexion

movement of the trunk sideways to the left or right at the waist, involves intervertebral joints and occurs in frontal plane

flexion

decrease in the angle between articulating bones

rotation

bone revolves around its own longitudinal axis

hyperextension

continuation of extension beyond the anatomical position and is usually prevents by the arrangement of ligaments and the anatomical alignment of bones

depression

downward movement of a part of the body

gliding

flat bone surfaces move back and forth and from side to side (no significant change in angle between bones)

extension

increase in the angle between articulating bones

lateral rotaion

turning of anterior surface away from the midline

eversion

movement of the soles laterally at the intertarsal joints so they face away from each other

medial rotation

turning of anterior surface in towards the midline

elevation

upward movement of a part of the body

plantar flexion

bending of the foot at the ankle in the direction of the plantar surface

dorsiflexion

bending of the foot at the ankle in the direction of the superior surface

protraction

movement of a body part anteriorly in the transverse plane (forward)

abduction

movement of a bone away from the midline

adduction

movement of a bone toward the midline

retraction

movement of a protracted part back to the anatomical position (backward)

inversion

movement of soles medially at the intertarsal joints so they face toward each other

circumduction

movement of the distal end of a part of the body in a circle (continuous sequence of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction)

pronation

movement of the forearm at the proximal and distal radio-ulnar joints in which the distal end of the radius crosses over the distal end of the ulna and the palm is turned posteriorly or inferiorly

supination

movement of the forearm at the proximal and distal radio-ulnar joints in which the palm is turned anteriorly or superiorly