Biomechanics Terms

Question 1

sagittal plane

Answer 1

divides body into left and right

Question 2

coronal plane

Answer 2

divides body into anterior and posterior

Question 3

transverse plane

Answer 3

divides body into inferior and superior

Question 4

ventral

Answer 4

anterior portion of the trunk

Question 5

volar/palmar

Answer 5

anterior portion of the hand

Question 6

volar/plantar

Answer 6

sole of foot

Question 7

dorsal

Answer 7

posterior portion of trunk and limbs

Question 8

cranial

Answer 8

toward the head/anterior end

Question 9

cephalad

Answer 9

toward the head/anterior end

Question 10

caudal

Answer 10

toward the tail/posterior end

Question 11

motions of the sagittal plane

Answer 11

flexion/extension (shoulder, hip, knee, elbow)
volar (palmar) flexion/dorsiflexion (hand)
dorsiflexion/plantar flexion (foot)

Question 12

dorsiflexion

Answer 12

toes up

Question 13

plantar flexion

Answer 13

toes down

Question 14

motions of the coronal plane

Answer 14

abduction/adduction (shoulder, hip, wrist, fingers)
radial deviation/ulnar deviation (wrist)
inversion/eversion (foot)

Question 15

motions of the transverse plane

Answer 15

medial (internal) rotation/lateral (external) rotation
pronation/supination (forearm)
adduction/abduction (foot)

Question 16

pronation

Answer 16

palm posterior

Question 17

supination

Answer 17

palm anterior

Question 18

combined triplanes ankle motions

Answer 18

supination of the foot
pronation of the foot

Question 19

supination of the foot

Answer 19

sagittal plane plantar flexion
coronal plane inversion
transverse plane adduction

Question 20

pronation of the foot

Answer 20

sagittal plane dorsiflexion
coronal plane eversion
transverse plane abduction

Question 21

phases of gait cycle

Answer 21

stance

initial contact
loading response
midstance
terminal stance
preswing

swing

initial swing
midswing
terminal swing

Question 22

external loads

Answer 22

ground reaction force
gravity
inertia

Question 23

units of length

Answer 23

in, ft, cm, m

Question 24

units of area

Answer 24

in^2, ft^2, cm^2, m^2

Question 25

units of pressure

Answer 25

lbf/in^2, N/m

Question 26

units of torque

Answer 26

in-lbf, ft-lbf, N-m

Question 27

ankle angle

Answer 27

a measure of dorsiflexion or plantar flexion relative to a neutral position of 90 AA = 90 - AAabs

Question 28

dorsiflexion ankle angle

Answer 28

less than 90

Question 29

plantar flexion ankle angle

Answer 29

greater than 90

Question 30

clinically measured knee flexion angle

Answer 30

full extension KA = 180 - KAabs

Question 31

matter

Answer 31

that which occupies space

Question 32

mass

Answer 32

the quantity of matter of a body unit: lbm/kg

Question 33

center of mass

Answer 33

the point at which all mass seems to be concentrated

Question 34

inertia

Answer 34

the bodies ability to resist a change in state

Question 35

Newton's First Law

Answer 35

"law of inertia" a body at rest remains at rest or a body in uniform motion (constant velocity, no acceleration) remains in uniform motion unless acted on by an outside force