Medical Body Movements

Abduction

Away from the body.

Adduction

Towards the body.

Subnation

Turning the palm of the hand upward or forward, or rolling the outer edge of the foot outward during a step.

Pronation

Turning a body part downward or inward toward the middle of the body.

Dorsiflexion

The upward bending of the ankle, where the toes and top of the foot move closer to the shin.

Plantar flexion

Pointing the foot and toes downward, away from the shin.

Opposition

The action of bringing the thumb across the palm to touch the other fingers.

Inversion

The movement that tilts the sole of the foot inward toward the midline of the body, typically involving the ankle joint.

Eversion

The movement of the foot that turns the sole outward, away from the body's midline.

Retraction

The backward or posterior movement of a body part from an extended or protracted position.

Protraction

The forward movement of a body part on a plane parallel to the ground.

Elevation

The upward movement of a body part in a superior direction.

Depression

The downward movement of a body part.

Flexion

A bending movement that decreases the angle between two parts of the body or bones at a joint.

Extension

A movement that increases the angle between two body parts or bones at a joint.