Body movements

Proper terminology of common bodily movements

flexion

decreasing joint angle

extension

increasing joint angle

abduction

away from midline

adduction

towards midline

Pronation (hand)

turning palm downwards so forearm bones are crossed

Supination (hand)

turning palm upwards so forearm bones are uncrossed

Eversion (foot)

rotation of ankle to turn sole outwards

Inversion (foot)

rotation of ankle to turn sole inwards

Rotation

rolling a part on its axis

Circumduction

conical movement of limb

Radial deviation

Moving hand laterally towards forearm on thumb side

Ulnar deviation

Moving hand laterally towards forearm on pinky side

Plantarflexion (foot)

increasing angle between dorsum and shin

Dorsiflexion

decreasing angle between dorsum and shin

Internal rotation

turning limb towards midline

External rotation

turning limb away from midline

Protraction (EG: shoulder, mandible)

moving anteriorly

Retraction (EG: shoulder, mandible)

moving posteriorly

Depression (EG: shoulder, mandible)

moving inferiorly

Elevation (EG: shoulder, mandible)

moving superiorly

Lateral flexion (spine)

sidebending of neck/spine

horizontal abduction

moving arm in horizontal plane away from midline

horizontal adduction

moving arm in horizontal plane towards midline

Finger flexion

Bending finger towards palm

Finger extension

Straightening finger away from palm

Finger abduction

spreading fingers apart

Finger adduction

Bringing fingers together

Opposition

Bringing thumb to other fingertips

Reposition

Moving thumb back to starting position