Understanding body motion

Abduction

The movement of a limb away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

The movement of a limb towards the midline of the body.

Supination

Movement of a hand, arm, or foot into a face-up position.

Pronation

Movement of a hand, arm, or foot into a face-down position.

Flexion

Decreases the angle between two limbs of a joint.

Extension

Increases the angle between two limbs of a joint.

Axial Skeleton

Contains the cartilage and bones that support and protect the organs of the head, neck, and trunk.

Skull

Made up of the cranium and facial bones.

Hyoid Bone

Supports the tongue and the muscles that move the tongue and is not attached to other bones.

Vertebral Column

Forms the central axis of the skeleton.

Sacrum

Five vertebrae that fuse together near the distal end of the vertebral column.

Rib Cage

Made up of twelve pairs of ribs connected to the thoracic vertebrae.

Trapezius

A large muscle involved in the movement of the scapula.

Pectoralis Major

A fan-shaped muscle on the chest that flexes, extends, adducts, and rotates the arm.

Pectoralis Minor

A thin, triangular muscle that draws the scapula forward and downward.

Latissimus Dorsi

The broadest muscle in the back, involved in adducting, medially rotating, and extending the arm.

Quadriceps Femoris

A large muscle group that occupies the front and sides of the thigh, responsible for knee extension.

Gastrocnemius

A powerful muscle on the back of the leg that forms part of the calf.

Ball/Socket Joint

When the surface of one rounded bone fits into the depression of another bone.

Hinge Joint

When two bones are molded together to allow movement in one direction or plane.

Pivot Joint

A cylinder-shaped bone that rotates inside another bone.

Tendon

A connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone.

Ligament

A connective tissue that attaches bone to bone.