Week 1 - Functional Anatomy: Joints, Movements & Planes of Motion

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering functional anatomy anatomical terms, skeletal divisions, directional locations, planes of movement, axes of rotation, structural and functional joint classifications, and movement definitions.

Standard Anatomical Position (SAP)

The standard body position used for reference where a person stands upright, feet shoulder-width apart, facing forwards, arms at sides, with palms facing forwards (supinated).

Axial Skeleton

Skeletal division including the skull, vertebral column/spine, and ribcage; its main function is protection and support.

Appendicular Skeleton

Skeletal division including the shoulder girdle, arms, pelvic girdle, and legs; its main function is movement.

Anterior / Posterior

Directional terms meaning Front (Anterior) / Back (Posterior). For example, the chest is anterior to the spine.

Superior / Inferior

Directional terms meaning Above (Superior) / Below (Inferior). For example, the forehead is superior to the nose.

Medial / Lateral

Directional terms meaning Closer to midline (Medial) / Further from midline (Lateral). For example, the nose is medial to the eyes.

Proximal / Distal

Directional terms used for limbs meaning Closer to trunk (Proximal) / Further from trunk (Distal). For example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist.

Superficial / Deep

Directional terms meaning Closer to skin (Superficial) / Deeper inside (Deep). For example, skin is superficial to muscle.

Sagittal Plane

An imaginary flat plane that divides the body into left and right sides.

Frontal Plane

An imaginary flat plane that divides the body into front and back portions.

Transverse Plane

An imaginary flat plane that divides the body into top and bottom portions.

Transverse Axis

Axis of rotation extending side to side, which is perpendicular to the sagittal plane.

Anteroposterior (AP) Axis

Axis of rotation extending front to back, which is perpendicular to the frontal plane.

Longitudinal Axis

Axis of rotation extending top to bottom, which is perpendicular to the transverse plane.

Fibrous Joints

Joints where adjacent bones are connected by dense connective tissue and lack a joint cavity.

Suture

A type of fibrous joint characterized by a narrow joint between skull bones.

Syndesmosis

A fibrous joint where bones are separated but held together by a ligament (e.g., tibia/fibula).

Gomphosis

A tooth-specific type of fibrous joint.

Cartilaginous Joints

Joints where adjacent bones are united by cartilage and lack a joint cavity.

Synchondrosis

A cartilaginous joint where bones are joined by hyaline cartilage (e.g., ribs to sternum).

Symphysis

A cartilaginous joint containing very thick collagen fibres (e.g., spine).

Synovial Joints

The most common joint type where articulating surfaces are not directly connected, but contact occurs through a cavity filled with lubricating fluid, allowing free movement.

Synarthrosis

An immobile joint that provides strong union between bones and protection of organs (e.g., skull, ribs to sternum).

Amphiarthrosis

A slightly movable joint that strongly unites bones while limiting movement (e.g., joints between vertebrae, pelvis).

Diarthrosis

A freely movable synovial joint that provides major body movements and a wide range of limb motion.

Uniaxial Joint

A joint that allows movement in one plane (e.g., elbow).

Biaxial Joint

A joint that allows movement in two planes (e.g., knuckle).

Multiaxial Joint

A joint that allows movement in all planes (e.g., hip).

Ball & Socket Joint

Multiaxial and most flexible synovial joint allowing flexion, extension, rotation, abduction, and adduction (e.g., hip, shoulder).

Hinge Joint

Uniaxial synovial joint allowing flexion and extension (e.g., knee, elbow).

Pivot Joint

Uniaxial synovial joint allowing rotation around a long axis (e.g., radio-ulna / forearm).

Gliding Joint

Uniaxial synovial joint where relatively flat surfaces slide and movement is limited (e.g., inter-carpal, AC joint).

Saddle Joint

Biaxial synovial joint allowing flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction (e.g., thumb CMC, sternoclavicular).

Condyloid Joint

Biaxial synovial joint allowing flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction, but where rotation is prevented (e.g., radiocarpal joint).

Flexion

A movement that decreases the angle of a joint.

Extension

A movement that increases the angle of a joint.

Abduction

A movement that moves a body part away from the midline.

Adduction

A movement that moves a body part towards the midline.

Internal Rotation

A movement that turns a bone medially on its longitudinal axis.

External Rotation

A movement that turns a bone laterally on its longitudinal axis.

Dorsiflexion

A movement that flexes the ankle joint.

Plantarflexion

A movement that extends the ankle joint.

Inversion

A movement that lifts the medial side of the foot.

Eversion

A movement that lifts the lateral side of the foot.

Supination

A movement that rotates the forearm and hand upwards.

Pronation

A movement that rotates the forearm and hand downwards.

Elevation

A movement that moves a bone vertically upwards.

Depression

A movement that moves a bone vertically downwards.

Protraction

A movement that moves a joint horizontally forwards.

Retraction

A movement that moves a joint horizontally backwards.