anitomical definitions of body positions and terms of movements

supine

laying on the back - face upward

supine

dorsal side is down, ventral side is up

prone

person lies flat with chest down, back up

prone

dorsal side is up, ventral side is down

midline

bisecting the body vertically down the center

midline

movements of the body are often referred to in their relation to this

anterior

front side of the body

posterior

back side of the body

flexion

bending movement that decreases the angle between two body parts

extension

straighting movement that increases the angle between body parts

abduction

motion that pulls a structure or part away from the midline of the body

adduction

motion that pulls a structure or part toward the midline of the body

lateral rotation

turning outward

medial rotation

turing inward

elevation

movement in an upward direction

depression

movement in a downward direction

protraction

anterior movement of the arms at the shoulders

retraction

anterior movement of the arms at the shoulders

plantar flexion

movement of the foot in which the foot or toes flex downward toward the sole

dorsiflexion

flexion of the entire foot upward toward the shin

eversioin

movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane

inversion

movement of the sole toward the median plane

pronation

rotation of the hand, forearm, or foot inward and downward

supination

rotation of the hand, forehand, or foot upward and outward

rotation

motion that occurs when a part turns on its axis

eccentric

muscle elongates while under tension, due to an opposing force being greater than the force generated by the muscle

concentric

A type of muscle contraction in which the muscles shorten while generating force

closed kinetic chain

the segment farthest from the midline is fixed or stationary

open kinetic chain

the segment farthest from the midline is free and not fixed