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General
Terms
|
Example |
Meaning |
Term |
|
When
you touch your right shoulder with your right hand, your elbow is in
flexion (flexed). |
Bending
the joint to make the angle between the two bones smaller. Occurs in the
sagittal plane. |
Flexion |
|
If
you straighten your legs, the knees have undergone extension (extended). |
Straightening
a joint to make the angle larger. Occurs in the sagittal plane. |
Extension |
|
When
you stand with your feet apart, your legs are in abduction (abducted). |
Moving
away from the median plane. Movement occurs in the coronal plane. |
Abduction |
|
If
you squeeze your knees together, you are adducting your legs. |
The
opposite of abduction. |
Adduction |
|
If
you tilt you head to touch your ear to your shoulder, you have laterally
flexed your neck. |
A
movement in the coronal plane used to describe a movement of the spine. |
Lateral
Flexion |
|
You
internally rotate your shoulder when you scratch your back. |
Rotation
of a limb where the anterior surface of the limb moves medially. |
Internal
Rotation |
|
You
externally rotate your hip when you point your feet out to the side. |
The
opposite of internal rotation. |
External
Rotation |
|
Making
circles in the air with your arms. |
A
circular motion combining flexion, extension, abduction and adduction. |
Circumduction |
|
When
screwing in a screw with a screwdriver using your right hand, you have
to supinate your forearm. |
A
movement of the forearm in which the palm faces posteriorly. |
Supination |
|
When
unscrewing a screw with your right hand, you must pronate your forearm. |
A
movement of the forearm in which the palm faces anteriorly. |
Pronation |
|
Sticking
your chin out. |
Moving
anteriorly. |
Protraction |
|
Pushing
your shoulders back to squeeze your shoulder blades together. |
Moving
posteriorly. |
Retraction |
|
|
Movement
of the hand where the thumb touches the 5th finger. |
Opposition |
|
When
you point your foot towards your head. |
Movement
of the ankle in the sagittal plane which decreases the angle between the
foot and the lower leg |
Dorsiflexion |
|
When
you stand on 'tip-toes' your ankles are in plantar flexion. |
Movement
of the ankle in the sagittal plane which increases the angle between the
foot and the lower leg |
Plantar
Flexion |
|
When
shrugging your shoulders you elevate them |
Upward
movement |
Elevation |
|
|
Opposite
to elevation |
Depression |
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|
|
|
The
knee cap is on the anterior side
of the knee |
Closer
to the front |
Anterior |
|
The
shoulder blades are posterior
to the ribs |
Closer
to the back |
Posterior |
|
The
heart is superior to
the stomach |
Closer
to the head |
|
|
The
chest is inferior to
the neck |
Closer
to the feet |
Inferior |
|
The
big toe is medial to
the 5th toe |
Closer
to the midline |
Medial |
|
The
thumb is on the lateral
side of the hand |
Further
from the midline |
Lateral |
|
The
skin is superficial to
muscle |
Closer
to the surface |
Superficial |
|
The
lungs are deep to the
ribs |
Further
from the surface |
Deep |
|
The
hip is proximal to the
knee |
Closer
to the trunk |
Proximal |
|
The
wrist is distal to the
elbow |
Further
from the trunk |
Distal |