Body Movements: Elevation, Depression, and Lateral Bending

Elevation

Movement of a body part upward (superiorly).

2 Examples of Elevation

1. Shoulder/scapula: shrug your shoulders upward.

2. Mandible: move the mandible upward to close the mouth.

Depression

Movement of a body part downward (inferiorly).

Examples of Depression

Shoulder/scapula: lower your shoulders downward. Mandible: move the mandible downward to open the mouth.

Lateral Bending

Bending the spine to the side, moving the trunk laterally.

2 Examples of Lateral Bending

1. Spine: bend your torso to the left or right.

2. Neck/cervical spine: tilt your head toward your shoulder.

Lateral Bending — Direction

The spine bends toward the left or right side, rather than forward or backward.

Demonstrating Lateral Bending

Stand upright and bend your torso to one side without rotating forward or backward.

Flexion

Movement that decreases the angle between two bones at a joint.

7 Examples of Flexion

1. Elbow: bending the elbow.

2. Shoulder: bringing the arm forward/downward.

3. Wrist: bending the hand toward the palm.

4. Fingers: curling the fingers.

5. Neck: bending the head forward.

6. Spine: bending the trunk forward.

7. Knee: bending the knee.

Extension

Movement that increases the angle between two bones at a joint.

7 Examples of Extension

1. Elbow: straightening the elbow.

2. Shoulder: moving the arm backward.

3. Wrist: bending the hand backward.

4. Fingers: straightening the fingers.

5. Neck: bending the head backward.

6. Spine: bending the trunk backward.

7. Knee: straightening the knee.

Abduction

Movement of a body part away from the body's midline.

3 Examples of Abduction

1. Shoulder: raising your arm out to the side.

2. Hip: moving your leg out to the side.

3. Fingers: spreading your fingers apart.

Adduction

Movement of a body part toward the body's midline.

3 Examples of Adduction

1. Shoulder: bringing your arm back toward your body.

2. Hip: bringing your leg back toward your body.

3. Fingers: bringing your fingers together.

Abduction vs. Adduction

Abduction = away from the midline; adduction = toward the midline. Memory: ABduction = ABducted away; ADduction = ADd toward.

Protraction

Movement of a body part forward/anteriorly.

3 Examples of Protraction

1. Shoulder/scapula: moving the shoulders forward.

2. Jaw/mandible: sticking the jaw forward.

3. Tongue: sticking the tongue out.

Retraction

Movement of a body part backward/posteriorly.

3 Examples of Retraction

1. Shoulder/scapula: pulling the shoulders backward.

2. Jaw/mandible: pulling the jaw backward.

3. Tongue: pulling the tongue back in.

Protraction vs. Retraction

Protraction = forward; retraction = backward.

Medial Rotation

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

2 Examples of Medial Rotation

1. Shoulder: rotate your arm inward toward your body.

2. Hip: rotate your thigh inward toward the body's midline.

Lateral Rotation

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

Examples of Lateral Rotation

Shoulder: rotate your arm outward away from your body. Hip: rotate your thigh outward away from the body's midline.

Medial vs. Lateral Rotation.

Medial rotation = toward the midline; lateral rotation = away from the midline.

is the elbow involved in medial and lateral rotation

no

Supination

Rotation of the forearm so the palm faces anteriorly/upward.

Examples of Supination

Forearm: turn your palm to face upward. Forearm: hold your hand out as if carrying a bowl of soup.

Pronation

Rotation of the forearm so the palm faces posteriorly/downward.

Examples of Pronation

Forearm: turn your palm to face downward. Forearm: turn your hand over to place your palm on a table.

Supination vs. Pronation

Supination = palm up/anterior; pronation = palm down/posterior. Memory: Supination = hold a bowl of soup.

Radial Deviation

Movement of the wrist toward the thumb side of the hand.

Example of Radial Deviation

At the wrist, move your hand sideways toward your thumb.

Ulnar Deviation

Movement of the wrist toward the pinky-finger side of the hand.

Example of Ulnar Deviation

At the wrist, move your hand sideways toward your pinky.

Radial vs. Ulnar Deviation

Radial = toward thumb; ulnar = toward pinky. Memory: Radial = radius = thumb side. Ulnar = ulna = pinky side.

Dorsiflexion

Movement of the foot upward toward the shin/head at the ankle.

Example of Dorsiflexion

Pull your toes up toward your head/shin, like lifting your toes off the ground.

Plantarflexion

Movement of the foot downward, away from the shin at the ankle.

Example of Plantarflexion

Point your toes down toward the ground, like pressing a gas pedal.

Dorsiflexion vs. Plantarflexion

Dorsiflexion = toes up; plantarflexion = toes down.

Inversion

Turning the sole of the foot inward toward the body's midline.

Example of Inversion

Turn the bottom of your foot inward, so the sole faces toward the other foot.

Plantarflexion

Pointing the foot downward, away from the shin.

Inversion vs. Plantarflexion

Inversion = sole turns inward; plantarflexion = toes point downward.

Opposition

Movement of the thumb across the palm toward the fingers.

Example of Opposition

Touch the tip of your thumb to the tip of your pinky or another fingertip.

Opposition — Joint

Occurs at the thumb, allowing it to move across the palm and meet the fingers.

what goes with elevation

depression

what goes with lateral bending

nothing else

what goes with flexion

extension

what goes with abduction

adduction

what goes with protraction

retraction

what goes with medial rotation

lateral rotation

what goes with supination

pronation

what goes with radial deviation

ulnar deviation

what goes with dorsiflexion

plantarflexion

what goes with inversion

eversion

what goes with opposition

nothing else