Scientific Terms

Anatomical Reference Position is considered the starting poisition for body segment movements. It is standing in a erect position with all body parts, including the plams of the hands facing forward.

Transverse Plane movements include left and right rotation, medial and lateral roatation, supination and ronation, and horizontal abductuion and adduction.

Flexion of a joint is to bend it or decrease the angle between the bones of the joint. Movements of flexion are in the sagittal plane.

Sagittal Plane is the longitudinal plane dividing the head and torso into left and right parts (not halves). It is parallel to the median plane.

Medial refers to a structure that is closer to the median plane thatn another structure in the body. "Medial" is not synonymous with "median."

Extension of a joint is to generally straighten it. In the anatomical position, most joints are in relaxed extension or neutral position. In relation to anatomical position, movements of extension are directed in the sagittal plane.

Hyperextension is extreme or abnormal extension.

Abduction of a joint moves a bone away from the midline of the body (or hand or foot). Movements of abduction are are directed in the coronal plane.

Coronal or Frontal Plane is a longitudinal plane dividing the body (head, torso, limbs) or its parts into front and back halves or parts.

Adduction of a joint moves a bone toward the midline of the body (or in case of hand or foot toward the midline of the hand or foot). In relation to the anatomical position, movements of adduction are directed in the coronal plane.

Dorsi Flexion is extension at the ankle joint.

Plantar Flexion is when flexion, or the decrease of the angle between the bones of the joint, occurs at the ankle joint.

Pronation is internal rotation of the radiohumeral joint.

Range of Motion is the angle through which a joint moves from anatomical position to the extreme limit of segment motion in a particular direction.

Rotation of a joint is to turn the moving bone about its axis. Rotation toward the body is internal or medial rotation; rotation away from the body is external or lateral rotation. Rotation of the clavicle allows for elevation of the humerus.

Radial Deviation is a frontal plane movement of the hand where the hand rotates toward the Radius (thumb side).

Ulnar Deviation is a frontal plane movement of the hand where the hand rotates toward the ulna (little finger).

Frontal Plane movements include abduction and adduction, lateral flexion, elevation and depression, inversion and eversion, and radial and ulnar deviation.

Axis of Rotation is the imaginary line perpendicular to the plane of rotation and passing through the center of rotation.

Mediolateral Axis is the imaginary line around which sagittal plane rotations occur.