Kinesiology Test

abduction- movement away from midline

adduction- movement towards midline

amphiarthroses- a type of joint that only allows for slight movement

arthritis- joint inflammation

arthrology- study of anatomy and function of joints

articular cartilage- tissue lining bony joints

transverse plane- divides into superior and inferior (top & bottom)

ball-and-socket joint: synovial joint helps in rotation; highest ROM but also least stability

bursitis: bursae inflammation

circumduction: movement around a plane in a circle (in 2 or 3 planes)

closed kinematic chain: movement where the distal aspect of the extremity is fixed (squats, push-ups pull ups)

concave: hollow, curved inwards

convex: hollow curve outwards

condyloid (ellipsoidal) joint: a synovial joint that cannot rotate

frontal plane: divides into anterior and posterior (front and back)

depression: movement lower to body part

diarthroses: all synovial joints (freely mobile joints)

dorsiflexion: flexion of ankle joint

elevation: movement upward

eversion: movement outward of ankle joint

extension: movement away from joint

fibrocartilage: a cartilage whose composition is fibrous tissue

flexion: bending

gliding joint: occurs between surface of 2 flat bones

gomphoses: fibrous mobile ball and socket joint

gout: form of arthritis

hinge joint: a type of synovial joint that only allows motion in 1 plane (elbow)

hyperextension: extending more than normal

inversion: movement of ankle joint inwards

joint articulation: connection between bones

kinesiology: study of movement

open kinematic chain: the part farthest from body (distal aspect) is not fixed during movement (kicking a ball)

opposition: movement of thumb across palm

osteoarthritis: cartilage wears down (arthritis of the cartilage)

pivot joint: a specific joint that moves in one plane

plantar flexion: movement away from ankle

primary fibrositis: widespread musculoskeletal pain

pronation: palms down turning forearm toward body

protraction: movement away from joint

retraction: movement towards joint

rheumatic fever: inflammatory condition that affects heart and brain

rheumatoid arthritis: small joints affected by inflammation

rotation: movement of joint in socket

saddle joint: synovial joint (surfaces concave and convex)

sagittal plane: divides the body into right and left parts

supination: palms up, turning forearm outwards

sutures: stitch or row of stitches

synarthroses: immovable fixed joints

syndesmoses: fibrous joint where 2 bones are parallel to each other connected by ligaments

synovial fluid: lubricated joints (in bursae)

synovial joint: ball and socket joint that articulates movement

synovial membrane: contains the synovial fluid

anatomical position: universal starting position— a person standing erect, eyes forward, arms at the side, palms and toes facing forward.

dorsal: posterior

ventral: anterior

plantar: sole of foot

immediate: between the medial and lateral side

median: situated on the midline

internal rotation: anterior surface of extremity rotates medially towards midline

external rotation: anterior surface of arm/leg rotates laterally away from midline

strain: stretch/tear of muscle or tendon

sprain: stretch/tear of ligaments

abrasion: skin is scraped away

contusion: bruise

effusion: swelling in the joint

hematoma: blood tumor

ligament: bone to bone

tendon: muscle to bone

ecchymosis: bruising, blue color

avulsion: tearing away of a part or a structure

contraindicate: to advise against

dislocation/luxation: complete separation of two ends of joint

crepitus: crackling sound

incision: surgical cut

laxity: looseness of joint

modalities: healing apparatus

blue discoloration: cyanosis

laceration: jagged tear in skin

subluxation: partial/incomplete separation of joint

acute: recent/new injury

fracture: break in bone

point tenderness: pain produced when structure is palpitated

inflammation: body’s response to injury

puncture: body part is pierced or stabbed

edema: swelling

radial deviation: (radius is on thumb side) movement towards radius

ulnar deviation: (ulna is on outside) movement towards ulna

rotation: movement of the bone on an axis

only type of saddle joint in human body: thumb

hinge joint: elbow

ball and socket joint: shoulder/hip

condyloid joint: wrist (allows movement in 2 planes)

main role of skeletal system: to provide support and structure

muscle under voluntary control: skeletal muscle

cartilaginous joints: synchondroses and symphyses

synovial fluid characteristics: shock absorption, lubrication, nutrition

every synovial joint has a: joint capsule

difference between fundamental and anatomical position: in fundamental position: palms face inwards

cranial: closer to head

caudal: closer to feet

bilateral: both sides

contralateral: opposite side

ipsilateral: same side

types of motion:

  • linear/rectilinear motion: in a straight line

  • curvilinear motion: movement in a curved path

  • angular motion: move around a fixed point

axial skeleton: upright part of the body (80 bones) appendicular skeleton: attaches to the axial skeleton (126 bones)

types of bone:

  • compact bone: hard dense outer shell, completely covers bone

  • cancellous bone: porous and spongy, articular ends of bone

structure of bone:

  • epiphysis: area at each end of long bone (head)

  • metaphysis: flared part at each end of diaphysis (neck)

  • diaphysis: main shaft of bone (shaft)

pressure epiphysis: located at ends of long bones

4 types of bones:

  1. long bones: largest bones in body, make up appendicular skeleton

  2. flat bones: very broad surface not thick (scapula)

  3. carpals

  4. irregular bones: variety of mixed shapes

fracture: broken or cracked bone

osteoporosis: loss of normal bone density

osgood-schlatter disease: traction of epiphysis at tibial tuberosity (only in children where bone is growing)

types of joints:

  • fibrous joint: thin layer of fibrous cartilage between two joints.

    • synarthrosis: suture/fibrous joint

    • syndesmoses: ligamentous/fibrous joint

    • gomphosis: peg-in-socket

  • cartilaginous/amphiarthrodial: hyaline cartilage/fibrocartilage between 2 bones

  • synovial: no direct union between two bone ends

uniaxial joint: angular motion in one plane, like hinge joint

pivot joint: uniaxial motion

biaxial joint motion: wrist

ONLY SADDLE JOINT IN HUMAN BODY: thumb

triaxial joint: motion in 3 planes, ball and socket joint

synovial membrane: lines inner layer of joint capsule

cartilage: dense, fibrous connective tissue that reduces friction

fibrocartilage function: shock absorber, fills gap between 2 bones

shoulder fibrocartilage: labrum

bursae: small, pad-like sacs that reduce friction around joints

osteoarthritis: breakdown of cartilage

3 types of movement:

  • roll: one joint surface rolls over another

  • glide: a single point on one surface slides over multiple points on another

  • spin: a bone rotates around a stationary axis

Compression → A force that pushes bones together (e.g., weight-bearing on the knee while standing).

Traction (Tension) → A force that pulls bones apart (e.g., hanging from a pull-up bar stretches the shoulder joint).

Shear → A force that acts in opposite directions across a joint, causing sliding movement (e.g., anterior-posterior shear in ACL injuries).

Torsion → A twisting force that rotates a bone along its axis (e.g., pivoting movements in sports like basketball).

insertion: the more movable bone

origin: the more stable bone

contractility: muscle’s ability to shorten/contract

extensibility: muscle’s ability to stretch/lengthen

elasticity: muscle’s ability to recoil/return to normal length

tension: force built up within a muscle

4 types of muscle contraction:

  1. isometric: no change in length of muscle

  2. isotonic: muscle length and joint angle changes

  3. concentric: muscles shorten

  4. eccentric: muscle lengthen

closed kinetic chain: distal segment is fixed, proximal segment moves.

open kinetic chain: distal segment moves, proximal segment is fixed.

3 types of force:

  • linear: two or more forces acting on same line

  • parallel: same plane, same or opposite directions

  • concurrent: two or more forces act on a common point but move in different directions.

torque: moment of force, ability of force to produce rotation around an axis.

center of gravity (COG): balance point at which the torque on all sides is equal

base of support (BOS): part of body that is in contact with supporting surface

line of gravity (LOG): imaginary vertical line passing passing through COG

  • Abduction: movement away from midline

  • Adduction: movement towards midline

  • Amphiarthroses: joints allowing slight movement

  • Arthritis: joint inflammation

  • Arthrology: study of joints

  • Articular Cartilage: tissue lining joints

  • Synovial Joints: freely mobile joints

  • Types of Movement:

    • Flexion: bending

    • Extension: moving away from joint

    • Rotation: movement of joint in socket

    • Circumduction: circular movement

    • Dorsiflexion: flexing the ankle

    • Plantar Flexion: moving away from ankle

    • Pronation/Supination: forearm movements

  • Joint Types:

    • Fibrous: immovable (sutures)

    • Cartilaginous: slight movement (symphyses)

    • Synovial: free movement (ball-and-socket, hinge, etc.)

  • Forces:

    • Compression: pushes bones together

    • Tension: pulls bones apart

    • Shear/Torsion: sliding or twisting motion

  • Muscle Types:

    • Skeletal Muscle: voluntary control

    • Muscle Contractions: isometric, isotonic (concentric, eccentric)

  • Other Key Terms:

    • Edema: swelling

    • Dislocation: complete joint separation

    • Ligament: connects bone to bone

    • Tendon: connects muscle to bone

    • Center of Gravity (COG): balance point

    • Base of Support (BOS): contact area with support surface.