Movement Terminology

Question 1

Abduction

Answer 1

-Lateral movement away from midline of trunk in lateral plane
(limbs moving away from the trunk)

Question 2

Adduction

Answer 2

-Movement medially toward midline of trunk in lateral plane (limbs moving back towards the trunk)

Question 3

Flexion

Answer 3

Bending movement that results in a change of angle in joint by bringing bones together
(decreasing angle between body parts/joints)

Question 4

Extension

Answer 4

Straightening movement that results in an change of angle in joint by moving bones apart (increasing angle between joints)

Question 5

Circumduction

Answer 5

• Circular movement of a limb
• a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, & adduction
• also referred to as circumflexion

Question 6

Diagonal abduction

Answer 6

movement by a limb through a diagonal plane away from the midline of the body

Question 7

diagonal adduction

Answer 7

movement by a limb through a diagonal plane toward and across midline of body

Question 8

external rotation

Answer 8

• rotary movement around longitudinal axis of a bone away from midline of body
• occurs in transverse plane

Question 9

internal rotation

Answer 9

• rotary movement around longitudinal axis of a bone toward midline of body
• occurs in transverse plane

Question 10

eversion

Answer 10

-turning sole of the foot outward or laterally

Question 11

inversion

Answer 11

-turning sole of foot inward or medially

Question 12

dorsal flexion

Answer 12

flexion movement of ankle that results in top of foot moving toward anterior tibia bone

Question 13

Plantar flexion

Answer 13

extension movement of ankle that results foot moving away from the body
(pressing gas pedal motion)

Question 14

Pronation

Answer 14

internally rotating radius where it lies diagonally across ulna, resulting in palm-down position of forearm

Question 15

supination

Answer 15

externally rotating radius where it lies parallel to ulna, resulting in palm-up position of forearm

Question 16

depression

Answer 16

• inferior movement of the shoulder girdle

- returning to normal position from a shoulder shrug

Question 17

elevation

Answer 17

• superior movement of shoulder girdle

- shrugging shoulder

Question 18

horizontal abduction

Answer 18

-movement of humerus in horizontal plane away from midline of body

Question 19

horizontal adduction

Answer 19

movement of humerus in horizontal plane toward midline of body

Question 20

Protraction

Answer 20

• forward movement of shoulder girdle away from spine

- abduction of scapula

Question 21

retraction

Answer 21

• backward movement of shoulder girdle toward spine

- adduction of the scapula

Question 22

rotation downward

Answer 22

rotary movement of scapula with inferior angle of scapula moving medially & downward

Question 23

rotation upward

Answer 23

rotary movement of scapula with inferior angle of scapula moving laterally & upward

Question 24

lateral flexion (side bending)

Answer 24

-movement of the head and/or trunk laterally away from midline

Question 25

reduction

Answer 25

-return of spinal column to anatomic position from lateral flexion

Question 26

Palmar flexion (hand)

Answer 26

flexion movement of wrist with volar or anterior side of hand moving toward anterior side of forearm

Question 27

Dorsal flexion (dorsiflexion)

Answer 27

extension movement of wrist in the sagittal plane with dorsal or posterior side of the hand moving toward posterior side of forearm

Question 28

Radial flexion (wrist) aka radial deviation

Answer 28

abduction movement at wrist of thumb side of the hand toward forearm

Question 29

Ulnar flexion (wrist) aka ulnar deviation

Answer 29

adduction movement at the wrist of little finger side of the hand toward forearm

Question 30

opposition of the thumb

Answer 30

diagonal movement of the thumb across palmar surface of hand to make contact with finger