Foundations of Structural Kinesiology, Biomechanics, and Neuromuscular Fundamentals

Flashcards covering key concepts, anatomical terminology, biomechanical principles, and neuromuscular fundamentals from the lecture notes.

Kinesiology

The study of the principles of anatomy (active and passive structures), physiology, and mechanisms in relation to human movement.

Structural Kinesiology

The study of muscles, bones, and joints as they are involved in the science of movement.

Main movers of the body

Approximately 100 out of 600 individual muscles are considered main movers of the body.

Anatomical Position

A reference position, standing upright posture, facing straight ahead, feet parallel and palms facing forward.

Fundamental Position

Same as anatomical position except palms facing the body.

Anterior

Locating to the front of the body.

Posterior

Locating to the back of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Medial

Towards the midline of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or origin.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or origin.

Bilateral

Pertaining to both sides of the body.

Ventral

Referring to the front of the body (same as anterior).

Dorsal

Referring to the back of the body (same as posterior).

Deep

Farther from the surface of the body.

Superficial

Closer to the surface of the body.

Palmar

Referring to the palm of the hand.

Plantar

Referring to the sole of the foot.

Scapular plane

The plane in which the scapula moves.

Anteversion

Forward turning or angulation (e.g., of a bone or joint).

Kyphosis

An excessive outward curvature of the spine, causing a hunchback.

Lordosis

An excessive inward curvature of the spine (swayback).

Recurvatum

Hyperextension of a joint, such as knee recurvatum.

Retroversion

Backward turning or angulation (e.g., of a bone or joint).

Scoliosis

A lateral curvature of the spine.

Varus

An angle or deformity that goes inward towards the midline (e.g., bow-legged).

Valgus

An angle or deformity that goes outward away from the midline (e.g., knock-kneed).

Cardinal Planes

The three primary planes of motion: Sagittal, Frontal, and Transverse.

Sagittal Plane

An anteroposterior (AP) plane that bisects the body front to back, dividing it into right and left symmetrical halves. Generally, flexion and extension movements happen in this plane.

Frontal Plane

A coronal or lateral plane that bisects the body side to side, dividing it into front (ventral) and back (dorsal) halves. Generally, abduction and adduction movements happen in this plane.

Transverse Plane

An axial or horizontal plane that bisects the body top to bottom, dividing it into superior (cephalic) and inferior (caudal) halves. Generally, rotational movements happen in this plane.

Diagonal or Oblique Planes

A combination of more than one plane of motion; most movements happen in this combined plane of motion.

High Diagonal Plane

Involved in overhead movements in the upper extremity, a type of diagonal plane of motion.

Low Diagonal Plane

Involved in underhand movements in the upper extremity and lower extremity movements, a type of diagonal plane of motion.

Sagittal Plane Axis of Rotation

The Frontal (coronal, lateral, bilateral, or mediolateral), X-Axis, which runs medial/lateral.

Frontal Plane Axis of Rotation

The Sagittal (anteroposterior or AP), Z-Axis, which runs anterior/posterior.

Transverse Plane Axis of Rotation

The Vertical (longitudinal or long), Y-Axis, which runs superior/inferior.

Cephalic (Head)

The region encompassing the Cranial (skull) and Facial (face) areas.

Cranial

Pertaining to the skull.

Frontal (head)

Refers to the forehead area of the head.

Occipital (head)

Refers to the base of the skull.

Orbital

Refers to the eye area.

Otic

Refers to the ear.

Nasal

Refers to the nose.

Buccal

Refers to the cheek.

Oral

Refers to the mouth.

Mental

Refers to the chin.

Cervical (Neck)

The region including the Nuchal (posterior neck) and Throat (anterior neck) areas.

Thoracic (Thorax)

The region including the Pectoral (chest), Sternal (breastbone), Costal (ribs), and Mammary (breast) areas.

Dorsal (Back)

The region including the Scapula (shoulder blade), Vertebral (spinal column), and Lumbar (lower back or loin) areas.

Abdominal (Abdomen)

The region including the Celiac (abdomen), Umbilical (navel), and Inguinal (groin) areas.

Pelvic (Pelvis)

The region including the Pubic (genital), Coxal (hip), Sacral (between hips), Gluteal (buttock), and Perineal (perineum) areas.

Shoulder (Upper limbs)

The region including the Acromial (point of shoulder) and Omis (deltoid) areas.

Axillary

Refers to the armpit.

Brachial

Refers to the arm.

Olecranon

Refers to the point of the elbow.

Cubital

Refers to the elbow.

Antecubital

Refers to the front of the elbow.

Antebrachial

Refers to the forearm.

Carpal

Refers to the wrist.

Palmar

Refers to the palm of the hand.

Manual (Hand)

The region encompassing the Dorsal (back of hand) and Digital (finger) areas.

Femoral

Refers to the thigh.

Patella

Refers to the kneecap.

Popliteal

Refers to the back of the knee.

Sural

Refers to the calf.

Crural

Refers to the leg.

Pedal (Foot)

The region including the Talus (ankle), Calcaneal (heel), Dorsum (top of foot), Tarsal (instep), Plantar (sole), and Digital (toe) areas.

Skeletal System

Comprises 206 bones that provide support and protection, attachment sites for muscles and ligaments, allow movement, store minerals, and perform hemopoiesis.

Hemopoiesis

The process of blood cell formation.

Appendicular Skeleton

Consists of 126 bones of the limbs and girdles.

Axial Skeleton

Consists of 80 bones of the head, neck, and trunk.

Long bones

Bones that are longer than they are wide, such as the femur, tibia, humerus, and ulna.

Short bones

Bones that are roughly cube-shaped, such as carpals and tarsals (wrist and ankle bones).

Flat bones

Thin, flattened, and usually curved bones, such as the scapula, sternum, ribs, and cranial bones.

Irregular bones

Bones that have complicated shapes and do not fit into other categories, such as the vertebrae and facial bones.

Sesamoid bones

Small, independent bones or cartilages developed in a tendon where it passes over an angular structure, such as the patella.

Synarthrodial Joint

An immovable joint.

Amphiarthrodial Joint

A slightly moveable joint.

Diarthrodial Joint

A freely moveable joint.

Arthrodial Joint

A gliding or plane joint, characterized as freely moveable.

Ginglymus (hinge) joint

A uniaxial joint with one degree of freedom, allowing flexion and extension; examples include the elbow joint (humeroulnar) and ankle joint (talocrural).

Trochoidal (pivot, screw) joint

A uniaxial joint with one degree of freedom, allowing internal rotation and external rotation; examples include the proximal and distal radioulnar joint and atlantoaxial joint.

Condyloidal (ellipsoid, ball-and-socket, ovoid) joint

A biaxial joint with two degrees of freedom, allowing flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction; examples include the wrist (radiocarpal) and 2nd-5th metacarpophalangeal joints.

Enarthrodial (ball-and-socket, spheroidal) joint

A multiaxial joint with three degrees of freedom, allowing flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation; examples include the glenohumeral joint and hip joint (acetabularfemoral).

Sellar (saddle) joint

A type of joint, an example is the 1st carpometacarpal joint.

Wolff's law

States that bone in a healthy person or animal will adapt to the loads it is placed under.

Davis's law

States that soft tissue models according to the demands placed on them.

Diarthrodial Joint Stability

Influenced by bony architecture, cartilaginous structure, and ligamentous/connective tissue laxity (static components).

Diarthrodial Joint Mobility

Influenced by muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, proprioception, and motor control (functional/dynamic components).

Closed packed position

The most stable position for a joint, typically at full extension, with maximal area of surface contact.

Open packed position

The least stable position for a joint, typically in mid-flexion, allowing for maximal distraction.

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement toward the midline of the body.

Flexion

Decreasing the angle of a joint.

Extension

Increasing the angle of a joint.

Circumduction

A circular movement of a limb that combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

External rotation

Rotation of a body part away from the midline of the body.

Internal rotation

Rotation of a body part toward the midline of the body.

Eversion

Turning the sole of the foot outward.