Download Movement Terms


Anterior –

 front

Posterior –


back
Also refers to an
‘aspect’ of the
body.
 Nose is on the
anterior aspect of
the body.



My Quad muscle is
to my
hamstring muslces.
My tricep is
to my bicep brachii.
My pectoralis major
is anterior to my abs?
My trapezius is
posterior to my
glutes.

Medial –

 towards midline

Lateral –

 away from midline


Aspect:
 Arms are on the
lateral aspect.

My fibula is
to my tibia.
My belly button is
to my hip bone.
My adductor longus
is medial to my
adductor brevis?
My left arm is lateral
to my right arm?

Inferior –

 below

Superior –

 above

**Used for trunk and
head structures.


My shoulders are
to my hips.
My mouth is
to my eyes.
My right iliac crest is
inferior to my left iliac
crest?
My sternum is
superior to my
thoracic spine?


**Only used for
extremities
Distal –


 further from point of
reference (trunk)

Proximal –

 closer to point of
reference (trunk)

My wrist is
to my elbow.
My hamstring is
to my calf
muscle.
My spleen is distal to
my pancreas?
My eyes are proximal
to my mouth?


Flexion –
 decreasing joint

Extension –
What plane do these
movements take
place in?
› Sagittal

 increasing joint
At which joints can
F/E occur?
› All

Is it called something
different at a joint?
› Ankle = dorsiflexion
& plantarflexion.


Abduction –
› All except elbow &
 movement away
from midline

Adduction –
 movement towards
midline

What plane do these
movements take
place in?
› Frontal
At which joints can
Ab/Ad occur?
knee

Is it called something
different at a joint?
› Neck = lateral
bending
› Wrist = deviation
› Torso = lateral
bending
› Ankle = inversion &
eversion

Internal Rotation –

 rotation towards
midline
Which joints can
perform these
movements?
› Neck, Shoulder,

 rotation away from
midline

Torso, & Hip.
External Rotation –
What plane do these
movements take
place in?
 Tranverse

Is it called something
different at a joint?
› Neck & Torso =
Lateral rotation

Why doesn’t the elbow
rotate?

› Actual joint is radioulnar
joint.
› Movement termed
pronation & supination

What is circumduction?
› Combination of flexion,
extension, adduction, &
abduction.
What joints can
circumduct?
› All but elbow and knee.

How can the scapula
move?
› Protraction – lateral
›
›
›
›
movement.
Retraction – medial
movement
Elevation – superior
movment
Depression – inferior
movement
Rotation – medial and
lateral rotation.