Exam 2 Review:  Chapter 8:  Joint Movements

flexion - The motion of certain synovial joints which gives the more distal bone(s) a continually decreasing angle with reference to the axis of the proximal bone(s); the opposite of extension.

extension - The motion of certain synovial joints which gives the more distal bone(s) a continually increasing angle with reference to the axis of the proximal bone(s); the opposite of flexion.

hyperextension - Extension of certain synovial joints beyond its normal range of motion; e.g., hyperextension of the spine is to bend the trunk and neck dorsally in order to gaze upward.

adduction - The motion of certain synovial joints which draws a limb inward toward the median axis of the body or a limb part toward the midline of that part of the limb; the opposite of abduction.

abduction - The motion of certain synovial joints which draws a limb outward away from the median axis of the body or a limb part away from the midline of that part of the limb; the opposite of adduction.

circumduction - The special circular movement of a limb such that the distal end of the limb delineates an arc; the rotation of a limb round an imaginary axis, so as to describe a conical surface; in humans, the motion possible at the shoulder or hip due to the ball-and-socket synovial joint design.

rotation - The motion of certain synovial joints in which a body part may be turned around a central axis; in humans, the motion possible at the head due to the joint between the atlas and axis or motion possible at the wrist due to joint between the head of the radius and the ulna.

elevation - The motion of certain synovial joints which moves a body part superiorly, e.g. the closing motion of the mandible during chewing; the opposite of depression.

depression - The motion of certain synovial joints which moves a body part inferiorly, e.g. the opening motion of the mandible during chewing; the opposite of elevation.  

protraction - The nonangular anterior movement of a part in a transverse plane, e.g., the sliding forward motion of the mandible; the opposite of retraction.

retraction -  The nonangular posterior movement of a part in a transverse plane, e.g., the sliding backward motion of the mandible; the opposite of protraction.

inversion - A special movement of the foot in which the sole of the foot is turned medially; the opposite of eversion.

eversion -  A special movement of the foot in which the sole of the foot is turned laterally; the opposite of inversion.

dorsiflexion - A special movement of the foot in which the superior surface of the foot is moved toward the shin (comparable to extension of the wrist); the opposite of plantar flexion.

plantar flexion - A special movement of the foot in which the superior surface of the foot is moved away from the shin (comparable to flexion of the wrist); the opposite of dorsiflexion.

supination -  The movement which turns or rotates the hand or forearm so that the palm faces superior or ventral (= up or forward where the orientation of the hand in "anatomical position" and where the radius and ulna are parallel); less commonly, the movement which turns or rotate the foot by adduction and inversion so that the outer edge of the sole bears the body's weight; the opposite of pronation.

pronation - The movement which turns or rotates the hand or forearm so that the palm faces inferior or dorsal (down or backward and where the radius and ulna cross each other); less commonly, the movement which turns or rotate the foot by abduction and eversion so that the inner edge of the sole bears the body's weight; the opposite of supination.

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