Movement of Synovial Joints

flexion

movement of a limb or trunk segment in a way that decreases the joint angle

extension

movement of a limb or trunk segment in a way that increases joint angle

abduction

movement of a body part in the frontal plane away from the midline of the body

adduction

movement in the frontal plane back toward the zero position or even beyond

elevation

movement that raises a body part vertically in the frontal plane

depression

lowers a body part in the frontal plane

protraction

anterior movement of a body part in the transverse plane

retraction

posterior movement of a body part in the transverse plane

circumduction

one end of an appendage remains fairly stationary while the other end makes a circular motion

rotation

movement in which a bone spins on its longitudinal axis

supination

movement that turns the palm to face anteriorly or upward

pronation

causes the palm to face posteriorly or downward

lateral flexion

tilting the head or trunk to the right or left of the midline

right/ left rotation

twisting at the waist or turning the head

lateral excursion

movement of the mandible to the left or right of the zero position

medial excursion

movement of the mandible to the median or zero position

radial flexion

tilts the hand toward the thumb

ulnar flexion

tilts the hand toward the little finger

radial abduction

moving the thumb away from the index finger so they form a right angle

palmar abduction

moving the thumb away from the plane of the hand so it points anteriorly

opposition

moving the thumb to approach or touch the tips of other fingers

reposition

move the thumb to the zero position

dorsiflexion

movement in which the toes are elevated

plantar flexion

movement of the foot so the toes point downward

inversion

movement that tips the soles medially

eversion

movement that tips the soles laterally