Movement Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical plane movements, axis definitions, joint actions, and specific digit motions based on the lecture by Mark Wilhelm, PT, DPT, PhD.

Sagittal Plane Movements

Movements that occur around a Transverse Axis, including flexion and extension.

Frontal Plane Movements

Movements that occur around an anteroposterior axis, including abduction, adduction, and lateral flexion.

Hand Midline Axis

The reference line for abduction and adduction of digits, located at the 3rd finger.

Foot Midline Axis

The reference line for abduction and adduction of digits, located at the 2nd toe.

Flexion and Extension Joints

Movements occurring in the sagittal plane at joints including intervertebral, shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist, and digit joints (metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal).

Thumb Rotation (90°)

The structural orientation of the thumb rotated 90° relative to other digits, causing its abduction and adduction to occur in a sagittal plane, and its flexion and extension to occur in frontal planes.

Opposition

Movement of the thumb and little finger at the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb combined with flexion at metacarpophalangeal joints.

Reposition

Movement that returns the thumb and little finger from opposition back to anatomical position.

Pronation and Supination

Rotational movements of the forearm occurring at the radio-ulnar joints.

3rd Digit Abduction

Movement of the 3rd digit at the metacarpophalangeal joint designated as lateral abduction or medial abduction relative to its midline position.

Medial (Internal) Rotation

Rotational movement toward the midline occurring at joints such as the glenohumeral joint, hip joint, head and neck, or upper trunk.

Lateral (External) Rotation

Rotational movement away from the midline occurring at joints such as the glenohumeral joint and hip joint.

Anatomical Position

The standard baseline orientation of the body to which all movement and direction terms are referenced.