Types of Movement
Inversion
Is a twisting of the foot that turns the sole inward.
Abduction
Is movement away from from the longitudinal axis of the body in the frontal plane. For example, swinging the upper limb to the side is abduction of the limb.
Flexion
Is movement in the anterior-posterior plane that reduces the angle between the articulating elements. Flexion happens at the shoulder joint or hip joint moves the limbs forward (anteriorly).
Dorsiflexion
Is the flexion of the ankle joint and elevation of the sole, as when you dig in your heel.
Eversion
Is the movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane. Inversion is the movement of the sole towards the median plane.
Opposition
Is the movement of the thumb toward the palm or fingertips that enables you to grasp and hold an object.
Retraction
Is the opposite of protraction.
Adduction
Moving it back to the anatomical position. Adduction of the wrist moves the heel of the hand toward the body, whereas abduction moves it farther away.
Extension
Occurs in the same plane, but it increases the angle between articulating elements.
Elevation
Refers to movement in a superior direction. When you close your mouth you elevate it.
Depression
Refers to the movement in a inferior direction. You depress your mandible when you open your mouth.
Pronation
Rotation of an anatomical part towards the midline: as a : rotation of the hand and forearm so that the palm faces backwards or downwards b : rotation of the medial bones in the mid-tarsal region of the foot inward and downward so that in walking the foot tends to come down on its inner margin.
Protraction
The act of moving an anatomical part forward. 2. : the state of being protracted; especially : protrusion of the jaws.
Circumduction
The circular (or, more precisely, conical) movement of a body part, such as a ball-and-socket joint or the eye. It consists of a combination of flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction. An example of Circumduction is moving your arm in a loop, as when drawing a large circle on a chalkboard.
Supination
The opposing movement of pronation, in which the palm is is turned forward.
Plantar flexion
The opposite movement of Dorsiflexion, extends the ankle joint and elevates the heel, as when you stand on tiptoe.
Hyperextension
To extend so that the angle between bones of a joint is greater than normal. You can hyperextend the neck , a movement that enables you to gaze at the ceiling.
Gliding
Two opposing surfaces glide past each other. Gliding occurs between the surfaces of articulating carpal bones and articulating tarsal bones and between the clavicles and sternum.