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The Different Types of Anatomical Movement

There are several types of anatomical movements that describe how bones and body parts move around joints. Movements include flexion, which reduces the angle between articulating elements; extension, which increases this angle; abduction and adduction, which move body parts away from or toward the midline; dorsiflexion and plantar flexion at the ankle; pronation and supination of the forearm; rotation around the longitudinal axis; and circumduction, which involves a circular movement combining flexion, adduction, extension, and abduction. Anatomical movements are defined relative to the body's starting position and midline.

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328 views

The Different Types of Anatomical Movement

There are several types of anatomical movements that describe how bones and body parts move around joints. Movements include flexion, which reduces the angle between articulating elements; extension, which increases this angle; abduction and adduction, which move body parts away from or toward the midline; dorsiflexion and plantar flexion at the ankle; pronation and supination of the forearm; rotation around the longitudinal axis; and circumduction, which involves a circular movement combining flexion, adduction, extension, and abduction. Anatomical movements are defined relative to the body's starting position and midline.

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Chromagrafx
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Different Types of Anatomical Movement

What is a Movement? Sagittal (Sagittalis)


Without going into complicated physics explanations and
equations, movement involves an entity moving from point A
to point B. The movement is carried out around a fixed axis or
fulcrum and has a direction. Anatomical movements are no
different. They usually involve bones or body parts moving
around fixed joints relative to the main anatomical axes
(sagittal, coronal, frontal, etc.)
What is Anatomical Movement?
Anatomical terms of movement are used to describe the
actions of muscles upon the skeleton. The terms used assume
that the body begins in the anatomical position.
Most movements have an opposite movement – also known
as an antagonistic movement.Anatomical movements can be
defined as the act or instance of moving the bodily structures
or as the change of position in one or more of the joints of the
body. Joint actions are described in relation to
the anatomical position which is the universal starting
position for describing movement.
Abduction - is a movement away from the midline - just as
abducting someone is to take them away. Moves the limb
laterally away from the body.
Adduction - is the movement of a body part toward the body's
midline. So, if a person has their arms straight out at the
shoulders and brings them down to their sides, it is adduction.
For fingers or toes, adduction brings the digits toward the
center of the hand or foot.
Angular Motion and Circumduction
Angular motion is defined as, The motion of a body about a
fixed point or fixed axis. It is equal to the angle passed over at
the point or axis by a line drawn to the body.
Circumduction. Circumduction is the movement of a body
region in a circular manner, in which one end of the body
region being moved stays relatively stationary while the other
end describes a circle. It involves the sequential combination
of flexion, adduction, extension, and abduction at a joint.

Dorsiflexion and Plantar Flexion  - are movements at the ankle


joint or foot, which is a hinge joint. Dorsiflexion is
the movement of the foot upwards, so that the foot is closer
to the shin. Plantar flexion is a movement in which the top of
your foot points away from your leg. You use plantar
flexion whenever you stand on the tip of your toes or point
your toes.
Elevation and Depression - occur when the structure moves in
a superior or inferior direction.

Extension - occurs when same plane as flexion, except that it


increases the angle between articulating elements. In fact it is
the exact opposite of the flexion and example is extending the
arms in both side.
Flexion - is the movement in the anterior and posterior plane
that reduces the angle between the articulating elements one
example is when bringing the hand towards the chest that is
flexing the joints of the arms.
Gliding - occurs when two opposing surface slide pass each
other as between articulating carpals and tarsal's and
between the clavicles.
Pronation and Supination - refer to the rotation of the end of
the radius across the anterior surface of the ulna . This
rotation moves the wrist and hand from palm-facing front
(supination) palm facing down (pronation).
Rotation
-involves turning the body or limb around the longitudinal
axes as in rotating the arm to screw in a light bulb.
The lower limbs consists of the thigh, the leg, and the foot.
The bones of the lower limb are the femur (thigh bone),
patella (kneecap), tibia and fibula (bones of the leg), tarsals
(bones of the ankle), and metatarsals and phalanges (bones of
the foot).

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