M01.01.009 Terms of Movement

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Learning Objective: By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to define and describe the major anatomical terms of movement, explain antagonistic pairs, and apply them to describe muscle actions at joints.

Overview

Anatomical terms of movement allow a precise description of muscle actions on the skeleton.

  • Movements are described assuming the body is in the anatomical position.
  • Most movements have opposing actions, called antagonistic movements.

The following sections describe the key movements, grouped in antagonistic pairs for clarity.

1. Flexion & Extension

Plane: Sagittal

Term Description Example
Flexion Decreases the angle between two body parts Elbow flexion: ulna approaches humerus; Knee flexion: foot moves closer to buttock
Extension Increases the angle between two body parts Elbow extension: straightens arm; Knee extension: straightens leg

2. Abduction & Adduction

Plane: Coronal

Term Description Example
Abduction Movement away from the midline Raising arms sideways; spreading fingers
Adduction Movement toward the midline Lowering arms; bringing legs together

3. Medial & Lateral Rotation

Plane: Transverse

Term Description Example
Medial (Internal) Rotation Rotates limb toward midline Hip: toes point inward; Shoulder: hand toward opposite hip
Lateral (External) Rotation Rotates limb away from midline Hip: toes outward; Shoulder: hand away from body

4. Elevation & Depression

  • Elevation: Moves a body part superiorly (shoulder shrug)
  • Depression: Moves a body part inferiorly

5. Pronation & Supination

  • Supination: Palm up; body lying on back = supine
  • Pronation: Palm down; body lying on front = prone

6. Dorsiflexion & Plantarflexion

  • Dorsiflexion: Flexion at the ankle, toes point superiorly
  • Plantarflexion: Extension at the ankle, toes point inferiorly

7. Inversion & Eversion

  • Inversion: Sole of foot turns toward midline
  • Eversion: Sole of foot turns away from midline

8. Opposition & Reposition

  • Opposition: Thumb and little finger brought together
  • Reposition: Thumb and little finger return to anatomical position

9. Circumduction

  • Conical movement of a limb around a joint, forming a “cone” shape

10. Protraction & Retraction

  • Protraction: Anterolateral movement of the scapula (reaching forward)
  • Retraction: Posteromedial movement of the scapula (pulling back)

Activity

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