Kinesiology Key Terms

Question 1

Abduction

Answer 1

A motion that pulls a structure or part away from the midline of the body

Question 2

ACL Injury

Answer 2

When the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee is torn or ruptures causing instability, inflammation and joint deterioration

Question 3

Adduction

Answer 3

A motion that pulls a structure or part towards the midline of the body, or towards the midline of a limb

Question 4

Amble

Answer 4

A fast walk in which the dog rocks from side to side. The four beats are irregular because the legs on each side are nearly moving simultaneously

Question 5

Balance

Answer 5

Dynamic control of weight bearing.

Question 6

Canter

Answer 6

A three-beat gait. Two legs move independently while the other two move as a pair. If the dog initiates the canter off of the right hind leg, then the diagonal pair of the left hind and right fore will make up the second beat of the gait and the left fore will be the last beat.

Question 7

Circumduction

Answer 7

Body movements that create a complete circle (as opposed to a rotation of less than 360 degrees.)

Question 8

Conformation

Answer 8

The size, shape and spatial relationship of the various structures of the body that determines the appearance and the style of movement or way of going of an animal. It is also a set of defined standards for a specific breed used to evaluate the structure of the dog in terms of its suitability for a specific task and its approximation to ideal for that breed.

Question 9

Connective Tissue Matrix

Answer 9

The fluid found between the cells of the body. It is a dynamic mix of proteins and lipids in a solution of water and salts that responds to pressure by creating an electromagnetic wave.

Question 10

Exhalation

Answer 10

Breathing outward contracts and lowers the ribs

Question 11

Extension

Answer 11

Bending movement at a joint that results in increased angle between two bones or body surfaces at a joint

Question 12

External Rotation

Answer 12

Rotation of a body part away from the midline of the body

Question 13

Flexion

Answer 13

Bending movement at a joint that decreases the angle between two parts

Question 14

Gait Analysis

Answer 14

Involves watching the animal moving freely or under the control of a handler to get a sense of their comfort and ease while moving

Question 15

Gallop

Answer 15

Like the walk is a four beat gait. The footfall pattern is similar to the canter, but the diagonal pair contacts the ground at slightly different times.

Question 16

Golgi Tendon Organ (GTO)

Answer 16

Is found in the musculotendinous junction where the two tissues interface. It specifically measures the tension or amount of load on a muscle, so that it can trigger the muscle to shut-down in the face of overload

Question 17

Hip Dysplasia

Answer 17

An irregular formation of the coxofemoral joint.

Question 18

Impulsion

Answer 18

Thrust or energy in forward motion

Question 19

Inhalation

Answer 19

Breathing inward expands and lifts the ribs

Question 20

Internal Rotation

Answer 20

Rotation of a body part towards the midline of the body

Question 21

Lateral Flexion

Answer 21

Flexion to one side and is specific to the axial skeleton, the spinal column, and skull

Question 22

Muscle Spindle Fiber (MSF)

Answer 22

A bundle of several fibers that are both muscle and nerve in origin. Because of its unique physiology, the MSF can measure the rate and degree of a muscle contraction

Question 23

Osteochondrosis

Answer 23

A limb disorder that occurs when the articular cartilage or growth plate exhibits pocks or areas of decreased mineralization

Question 24

Pace

Answer 24

A form of the trot in which the legs on one side of the body move as a pair. This is called a lateral gait

Question 25

Patellar Luxation

Answer 25

A limb disorder that occurs is when the patella tracks incorrectly, moving either lateral or medial to the trochlear groove of the distal femur

Question 26

Pelvic Angulation

Answer 26

Measured by drawing an imaginary line from the point of the haunch through the point of the buttock and a horizontal line that passes through the point of the haunch.

Question 27

Proprioception

Answer 27

The neurological training method the body uses to learn patterns of movement.

Question 28

Protraction

Answer 28

Cranial (anterior) movement of the limbs.

Question 29

Rear Assembly

Answer 29

Includes the hip and limb and is measured by looking at the dog from the hind and the side.

Question 30

Retraction

Answer 30

Caudal (posterior) movement of the limbs.

Question 31

Rotation

Answer 31

Movement occurs around the circumference of the joint creating a rolling motion. Rotation is limited in quadrupeds. It occurs along the spine and in the limbs.

Question 32

Shoulder Angulation

Answer 32

The slope of the scapula as it lays on the ribcage.

Question 33

Stride

Answer 33

All gaits are measured in a unit called a stride. One stride is equal to the time it takes all four legs to pass through the normal footfall pattern of the gait.

Question 34

Trot

Answer 34

A two-beat gait in which a front and hind leg on opposite sides of the body move together. This is called a diagonal gait and the pair of legs in motion is called the diagonal pair.

Question 35

Walk

Answer 35

A gait that should have a regular even beat. The walk should be heard as four distinct beats or steps.