Anatomical terms of motion

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Jump to: navigation, search The movement of body structures is accomplished by the contraction of muscles. Muscles may move parts of the skeleton relatively to each other, or may move parts of internal organs relatively to each other. All such movements are classified by the directions in which the affected structures are moved. In human anatomy, all descriptions of position and movement are based on the assumption that the body is its complete medial and abduction stage in anatomical position. The prefix hyper- is sometimes added to emphasize movement beyond the normal position, such as in hyperflexion or hyperextension. Such movements can put significant stress on the joints involved. See: Medical terminology All motions are considered to be a mixture of or a single contribution by the following types of movement. Most terms of a motion have clear opposites, and as such, are treated below in pairs.

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1 General motion 2 Special motions of the hands and feet 3 Other special motions 4 See also 5 References 6 External links 7 External references

[edit] General motion

Adjusting angle between two parts Flexion - Bending movement that decreases the angle between two parts. Bending the elbow, or clenching a hand into a fist, are examples of flexion. When sitting down, the knees are flexed. Flexion of the hip or shoulder moves the limb forward (towards the anterior Extension - The opposite of flexion; a straightening movement that increases the angle between body parts. In a conventional handshake, the fingers are fully extended. When standing up, the knees are extended. Extension of the hip or shoulder moves the limb backward (towards the posterior side of

side of the body). the body). Abduction - A motion that pulls a Adduction - A motion that pulls a structure or part away from the structure or part towards the midline of midline of the body (or, in the case the body, or towards the midline of a Adjusting of fingers and toes, spreading the limb. Dropping the arms to the sides, or relation to digits apart, away from the centerline bringing the knees together, are mid-line of of the hand or foot). Abduction of examples of adduction. In the case of body the wrist is called radial deviation. the fingers or toes, adduction is closing Raising the arms laterally, to the the digits together. Adduction of the sides, is an example of abduction. wrist is called ulnar deviation. Internal rotation (or medial External rotation (or lateral rotation) rotation) of the shoulder or hip is the opposite of Internal Rotation. It Rotating would point the toes or the flexed would turn the toes or the flexed body parts forearm inwards (towards the forearm outwards (away from the midline). midline). Adjusting Elevation - Movement in a superior Depression - Movement in an inferior elevation direction. direction, the opposite of elevation.

[edit] Special motions of the hands and feet

The palm (adj palmar) of the hand surfaces of corresponds to the sole (adj plantar) of the hands the foot. The adjective volar, used and feet mainly in orthopaedics, is synonymous with palmar and plantar. Pronation - A rotation of the forearm that moves the palm from an anteriorfacing position to a posterior-facing rotation of position, or palm facing down. This is the forearm not medial rotation as this must be performed when the arm is half flexed. (See also Pronator quadratus and Pronator teres muscle.) The dorsum (back) of the hand corresponds to the dorsum (top) of the foot. Supination - The opposite of pronation, the rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces anteriorly, or palm facing up. The hand is supine (facing anteriorly) in the anatomical position. (See also Supinator muscle.)

Plantarflexion - Flexion of the bending of Dorsiflexion - Extension of the entire entire foot inferiorly, as if pressing the entire foot superiorly, as if taking one's foot off an automobile pedal. Occurs at foot an automobile pedal. ankle. movement Inversion - the movement of the Eversion - the movement of the sole of of the sole sole towards the median plane the foot away from the median plane. of the foot (same as when an ankle is twisted).

[edit] Other special motions

anterior/posterior movement Protrusion - The anterior Retrusion - The

opposite of protrusion, movement of an object. This term moving a part is often applied to the jaw. posteriorly. Retraction - Posterior anterior/posterior movement Protraction - Anterior movement movement of the arms - shoulders of the arms at the shoulders. at the shoulders. anterograde motion is in the retrograde motion motion within body (such as normal direction of flow. (For means reversed flow. in blood vessels or the example, passage of food from the (For example, gastric digestive system) mouth to the stomach.) reflux.) - general Some additional motions without clear opposites are as follows:

Rotation - A motion that occurs when a part turns on its axis. The head rotates on the neck, as in shaking the head 'no'. 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. "Windmilling" the arms or rotating the hand from the wrist are examples of circumductive movement. Apposition - A motion involving a grasping of the thumb and fingers. Reposition - To release an object by spreading the fingers and thumb. Reciprocal motion of a joint - Alternating motion in opposing directions, such as the elbow alternating between flexion and extension