Flexion and Extensionįlexion and extension are movements that take place within the sagittal plane and involve anterior or posterior movements of the body or limbs. (l) Opposition of the thumb brings the tip of the thumb into contact with the tip of the fingers of the same hand and reposition brings the thumb back next to the index finger. (k) Depression of the mandible opens the mouth, while elevation closes it. (j) Protraction of the mandible pushes the chin forward, and retraction pulls the chin back.

(i) Eversion of the foot moves the bottom (sole) of the foot away from the midline of the body, while foot inversion faces the sole toward the midline. Figure 9.5.2 – Movements of the Body, Part 2: (g) Supination of the forearm turns the hand to the palm forward position in which the radius and ulna are parallel, while forearm pronation turns the hand to the palm backward position in which the radius crosses over the ulna to form an “X.” (h) Dorsiflexion of the foot at the ankle joint moves the top of the foot toward the leg, while plantar flexion lifts the heel and points the toes. Medial and lateral rotation of the upper limb at the shoulder or lower limb at the hip involves turning the anterior surface of the limb toward the midline of the body (medial or internal rotation) or away from the midline (lateral or external rotation). (f) Turning of the head side to side or twisting of the body is rotation. Adduction/abduction and circumduction take place at the shoulder, hip, wrist, metacarpophalangeal, and metatarsophalangeal joints. Circumduction is the movement of the limb, hand, or fingers in a circular pattern, using the sequential combination of flexion, adduction, extension, and abduction motions. Adduction brings the limb or hand toward or across the midline of the body, or brings the fingers or toes together. Moving the limb or hand laterally away from the body, or spreading the fingers or toes, is abduction. (e) Abduction and adduction are motions of the limbs, hand, fingers, or toes in the coronal (medial–lateral) plane of movement. (c)–(d) Anterior bending of the head or vertebral column is flexion, while any posterior-going movement is extension. These movements take place at the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist, metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal, and interphalangeal joints. (a)–(b) Flexion and extension motions are in the sagittal (anterior–posterior) plane of motion. What motions involve increasing or decreasing the angle of the foot at the ankle? Figure 9.5.1 – Movements of the Body, Part 1: Synovial joints give the body many ways in which to move. Watch this video to learn about anatomical motions. Refer to Figure 9.5.1 as you go through this section.

Body movements are always described in relation to the anatomical position of the body: upright stance, with upper limbs to the side of body and palms facing forward. Movement types are generally paired, with one directly opposing the other.

There are many types of movement that can occur at synovial joints ( Table 9.1). Overall, each type of synovial joint is necessary to provide the body with its great flexibility and mobility. While the ball-and-socket joint gives the greatest range of movement at an individual joint, in other regions of the body, several joints may work together to produce a particular movement. The degree and type of movement that can be produced at a synovial joint is determined by its structural type. Each movement at a synovial joint results from the contraction or relaxation of the muscles that are attached to the bones on either side of the articulation. Synovial joints allow the body a tremendous range of movements.

Identify the joints that allow for these motions.

Demonstrate the different types of body movements.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:ĭefine and identify the different body movements

Human skeleton sketch side