Anatomical and Physiological Bases of Human Movement

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical planes, directions, axes of rotation, and various types of body movements as detailed in the PATHFIT1n lecture notes.

Midsagittal Plane

A plane in the midline through the center of the body that divides the body into left and right sides.

Transverse Plane

A typically horizontal plane through the center of the body, parallel to the ground, that divides the body into superior and inferior portions.

Coronal Plane

A plane that divides the body into dorsal and ventral (back and front) portions, also separating the anterior and posterior sections.

Anterior

A directional term meaning at or near the front of the body.

Posterior

A directional term meaning at or near the back of the body.

Lateral

A directional term meaning farther from the midline of the body.

Medial

A directional term meaning nearer to the midline of the body.

Superior

A directional term meaning toward the head or upper part of a structure.

Inferior

A directional term meaning away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure.

Proximal

A directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment with the torso, such as the shoulder or hip.

Distal

A directional term meaning farther from the origination of a structure.

Anatomical Position

A specific stance where the body is upright, facing the observer, feet flat and directed forward, with upper limbs at the sides and palms facing forward.

Axis

A straight line around which an object rotates.

Frontal axis ($X$-Axis)

An axis passing horizontally from left to right, formed by the intersection of the frontal and transverse planes.

Vertical axis ($Y$-Axis)

An axis passing vertically from inferior to superior, formed by the intersection of the sagittal and frontal planes.

Sagittal axis ($Z$-Axis)

An axis passing horizontally from posterior to anterior, formed by the intersection of the sagittal and transverse planes.

Flexion

A movement occurring in the sagittal plane that decreases the angle between two bones.

Extension

A movement occurring in the sagittal plane that increases the angle between two bones, straightening a joint or returning it to the anatomical position.

Hyperflexion

Excessive bending of a joint beyond its normal range.

Hyperextension

Excessive extension of a joint beyond its normal range, which can lead to injury.

Abduction

Movement of a limb, finger, toe, or thumb away from the body's midline in the coronal plane.

Adduction

Movement of a limb, finger, toe, or thumb toward or across the body's midline in the coronal plane.

Circumduction

The circular movement of a body region where one end stays relatively stationary while the other end describes a circle.

Rotation

The twisting movement of a bone or body part around its axis toward or away from the midline.

Medial (internal) rotation

A movement that brings the anterior surface of a limb toward the midline of the body.

Lateral (external) rotation

A rotation of a limb so that the anterior surface moves away from the midline.

Pronation

The motion rotation of the radius that moves the forearm from the anatomical position to a palm-backward position.

Supination

The motion rotation of the radius that returns the bones to a parallel position and moves the palm to an anterior-facing position.

Dorsiflexion

The movement at the ankle joint involving lifting the front of the foot so the top moves toward the anterior leg.

Plantar Flexion

The movement at the ankle joint involving lifting the heel from the ground or pointing the toes downward.

Inversion

A movement at the intertarsal joints involving turning the sole of the foot toward the body's midline.

Eversion

A movement at the intertarsal joints involving turning the sole of the foot away from the body's midline.

Protraction

The forward movement of a body part, such as the scapula or mandible, in the horizontal plane.

Retraction

The backward movement that returns a body part toward its normal anatomical position.

Elevation

Movement in an upward or superior direction.

Depression

Movement in a downward or inferior direction; the opposite of elevation.

Excursion

A side-to-side movement of the jaw bones.

Lateral Excursion

Movement of the jaw away from the midline.

Medial Excursion

Movement of the jaw toward its median position.

Superior Rotation

Movement of the scapula where the glenoid cavity moves upward and the medial edge of the scapular spine descends.

Inferior Rotation

Movement of the scapula where the glenoid cavity moves downward and the medial end of the scapular spine moves upward.

Opposition

The movement of the thumb at the first carpometacarpal joint that allows its tip to contact the tip of another finger.

Reposition

The movement that returns the thumb to its normal anatomical position next to the index finger.