Anatomy and
Physiology of
human Movement
Lesson 1
Questions:
1. How do the anatomical
structures of the human body
facilitate and support
physiological processes involved
in movement? 10 pts
Why do we need to study anatomy
and physiology of human
movement?
ANATOMY
• Is the study of the structure and relationship between
body part
Physiology
• Is the study of the function of body parts and the body
as a whole.
Do you think
that the body
has its
anatomical
position?
Anatomical Position
❑ Is the adoption of an unequivocal position of
the body.
• It described as follows: the body is standing
erect and facing forwards; the legs are
together with the feet parallel so that the
toes point forwards; the arms hang loosely
by the sides with the palm of the hand
facing forwards so that the thumb is lateral.
Anatomical Position
ANTERIOR (Ventral)
to the front or in front, e.g patella lies
anterior to the knee joint.
POSTERIOR(DORSAL)
To the rear or behind, e.g. glute us maximus
lies posterior to the hip joint. (Ventral and
dorsal are used more commonly in
quadrupeds.)
Anatomical Position
SUPERIOR (Cephalic)
above, e.g. the head is superior to the
trunk.
INFERIOR (Caudal)
below, e.g. the knee is inferior to the hip.
CEPHALIC (The head) CAUDAL (the tail) maybe
used in relation to the trunk.
Anatomical Position
LATERAL
Away from the median plane or
midline, e.g. the thumb lies lateral to the
index finger.
MEDIAL
Towards the median plane or midline,
e.g. the index finger lies medial to the
thumb.
Anatomical Position
SAGITTAL (MEDIAN) PLANE is the left halves.
PARASAGITTAL PARAMEDIAN PLANE, a plane that is
parallel to the left halves.
Anatomical Position
A plane passing through the body from top
to bottom and lying at right angles to the
sagittal plane is the coronal (frontal) plane.
This divides the body into anterior and
posterior [Link] planes that divide the body
in this way are known as coronal planes.
Anatomical Position
Distal Further away from the trunk or root of
the limb,e.g. the foot is distal to the knee.
Proximal Closer to the trunk or root of the
limb, e.g. the elbow is proximal to the hand.
Anatomical Position
Superficial Closer to the surface of the body or
skin, e.g. the ulnar nerve passes superficial to the
flexor retinaculum of the wrist.
Deep Further away from the body surface or
skin, e.g. the tendon of tibialis posterior passes
deep to the flexor retinaculum at the ankle.
Flexion
The bending of adjacent body segments in a
paramedian plane so that their two anterior/posterior
surfaces are brought together, e.g. bending the elbow so
that the anterior surfaces of the forearm and arm move
towards each other. (For flexion of the knee joint the
posterior surfaces of the leg and thigh move towards each
other.)
Flexion
• Decreases the angle between two structures as they
bend or move closer together.
• Example
ELBOW/FOREARM EXTENSION
Angle between forearm and arm decreases as ulna
moves toward humerus bone.
Flexion
Example
SHOULDER/ARM FLEXION
• Angle at the humerus of arm and scapula bone
decreases as arms are move anteriorly.
.WRIST/HAND EXTENSION
• Angle at the palm of hand and anterior surface of the
forearm decreases
Flexion
Example
FINGER/DIGIT FLEXION
Angle between digits 2-5 and the palm decreases.
INTERPHALANGEAL JOINTS FLEXION
THUMB/POLLEX FLEXION
Extension
• The moving apart of two opposing surfaces in a
paramedian plane, e.g. the straightening of the flexed
knee or elbow.
• 19. Extensional so refers to movement beyond the
neutral position in a direction opposite to flexion, e.g.
extension at the wrist occurs when the posterior
surfaces of the hand and forearm move towards each
other.
Extension
• Increases the angle between two structures as they
straighten or move further apart.
Example:
Shoulder/Arm Extension
Angle at the humerus of arm and scapula bone increases
as arms move posteriorly.
Extension
Example:
WRIST/HAND EXTENSION
Angle at the palm of hand and anterior surface of the
forearm increases.
FINGER/DIGIT EXTENSION
Angle between digits 2-5 and the palm increases.
INTERPHALANGEAL JOINTS EXTENSION
Flexion and Extension
HIP/THIGH FLEXION
Angle between thigh and hip decreases.
HIP/THIGH EXTENSION
Angle between thigh and hip increases. Joint
allows thigh to move posteriorly.
Flexion and Extension
KNEE/LEG FLEXION
Angle between tibia and femur decreases.
KNEE/LEG EXTENSION
Angle between tibia and femur increases.
TOE/HALLUX FLEXION/EXTENSION
Flexion and Extension
SPINE FLEXION
Angle between spine and hip decreases.
SPINE EXTENSION
Angle between spine and hip increases.
Flexion and Extension
NECK FLEXION
Angle between head and trunk decreases.
25. SPINE EXTENSION
Angle between head and trunk increases.
Flexion and Extension
LATERAL SPINE/NECK FLEXION
Head or trunk bends to left or right side.
LATERAL SPINE/NECK EXTENSION
Head or trunk returns toward body’s
midline./ reduction
Abduction
The movement of a body segment in a
coronal plane such that it moves away from
the midline of the body
e.g. movement of the upper limb away from
the side of the trunk.
Adduction
The movement of a body segment in a
coronal plane such that it moves towards the
midline of the
body, e.g. movement of the upper limb back
towards the side of the trunk.
Lateral flexion (bending)
A term used to denote bending of the trunk
(vertebral column) to one side,
e.g.
lateral bending of the trunk to the left. The
movement occurs in the coronal plane.
Medial rotation
a limb segment about its longitudinal axis
such that the anterior surface comes to face
towards the midline of the body,
e.g. turning the lower limb inwards so that
the toes point towards the midline.
Lateral rotation
Rotation of a limb segment about its
longitudinal axis so that its anterior surface
faces away from the midline plane,
e.g. turning the lower limb so that the toes
point away from the midline.
Supination
and pronation
Supination
Movement of the forearm so that the palm of
the hand faces forwards. In the foot it is the
movement whereby the forefoot is turned so
that the sole faces medially; it is always
accompanied by adduction of the forefoot.
Pronation
Movement of the forearm that makes the
palm of the hand face backwards. In the foot
it is a movement of the forefoot which causes
the sole to face laterally; it is always
accompanied by abduction of the forefoot.
What is Foot Pronation
vs. Supination?
Foot Pronation:
• pronation is a normal and necessary movement that
occurs during walking or running. It involves the
inward rolling of the foot as the arch flattens,
absorbing the impact of each step. This motion helps
in distributing the forces evenly through the foot and
lower leg. Overpronation refers to excessive inward
rolling, where the foot rolls too far inward, leading to
potential alignment issues and injuries.
Foot Supination:
• Supination is the opposite of pronation. It is the
outward rolling of the foot, where the arch becomes
more pronounced during the push-off phase of walking
or running. Supination helps in propelling the body
forward and aids in the transition from the stance
phase to the swing phase of gait. Underpronation, or
oversupination, occurs when the foot rolls excessively
outward, leading to inadequate shock absorption and
potential injuries.
Inversion
and eversion
Inversion
Movement of the whole foot to make the sole
face medially. It consists of supination and
adduction of the forefoot.
Eversion
Movement of the whole foot so that the sole
comes to face laterally. It consists of
pronation and abduction of the forefoot.
Questions
