Anatomical Movement Terminology

Chapter 2

Definition of Link System
     The body is composed of segments linked together at their articulations.  Thus the body is considered a SYSTEM consisting of moveable segments or links.

The Body is divided into 10 segments
Planes and Axes of the Body
     Plane of Motion is created by movement of a body
     Axis of Rotation is that about which movement or motion occurs

Principal/Segmental Planes and Axes
     Principal Planes and Axes-Planes and axes that pass through the body’s center of gravity.
     Segmental Planes and Axes-Planes and Axes located through joints of the body.

Plane and Axis Combinations
     Mediolateral Axis and Sagittal Plane
     Anteroposterier Axis and Frontal Plane
     Longitudinal Axis and Transverse Plane
     Diagonal Axis and Diagonal Plane

Anthropometric Characteristics of the Human Body
     Anthropometrics:
        •  The measurement of the size, shape and proportion of the human body.
        • Biomechanists use anthropometric data to surmise the biomechanical advantage an individual may have as a result of that person’s anthropometric measures.

Ponderal Index
     The measure of stature or stoutness.
        • Two individuals of equal weight and height are considered to have the same PI.
        • Two individuals with equal weight but differing heights will have different Ponderal Indexes.  Whose index will be greater?

Somatotype
     Body Type or Body Configuration
        • Endomorph-short and fat (measure of body fatness)
        • Mesomorph-stout and muscular (measure of muscle mass)
        • Ectomorph-tall and thin (measure of linearity)

Body Proportions
     Arm Lengths-Long arms, longer levers, greater ROM (throwers/strikers)
     Leg Lengths-Long leg lengths not advantageous to gymnasts-offer greater resistance to motion.
     Trunk Lengths-Long trunk, greater ROM for striking or throwing
 

Definition of SYSTEM
     A body or group of bodies or objects whose motion is to be examined; it might be an arm, a leg, a whole body, a pair of football players, or a racket.

Definition of FRAME OF REFERENCE
     A stationary environment or one that also is moving.
     Examples:
                     Hand-wrist Segment
                     Fixed Bar Chin Up
                     Moveable Bar Weights

Orientation of the Moving Body In Space
     The orientation of the body is described within a spatial frame of reference.  Movement of the body is then described as being in a direction of motion
    designated as the x direction, the y direction and the z direction.

The X Direction
     The X Direction is parallel to the ground and runs forward and backward relative to the performer.  Forward is + and Backward is -

The Y Direction
     The Y direction is parallel to the ground and runs right and left relative to the performer.  The left is + and the right is -

The Z Direction
     The Z direction is perpendicular to the other two.  Upward is + and downward is -
        X, Y and Z Directional Examples
                                                             Path of Golf Ball
                                                             Swimmer
                                                             Cyclist foot

Anatomical Directional Terminology:

Anterior:  In Front

Contralateral:  Pertaining or relating to the opposite side

Distal:  Situated away from the center or midline of the body

Dorsal:  Backside

Inferior:  Below in relationship to another body part

Lateral:  On or to the side, outside

Medial:  Relating to the middle or center

Posterior:  Behind, in the back or rear

Prone:  Face downward

Proximal:  Nearest to the trunk or point of origin

Superficial:  Near to the surface

Superior:  Above in relationship to another structure

Supine:  Lying on the back

Ventral:  Relating to the belly or abdomen

Movements of the Body

General Movements

Abduction:  Raising arms/legs to the side horizontally

Adduction:  Lowering the arm or leg from the side to anatomical position  in the frontal plane

Flexion:  Bending movement that decreases joint angle

Extension:  Straightening movement that results in an increase in joint angle

Circumduction:  Circular movement of a limb that delineates an arc or cone

Diagonal abduction:  Movement by a limb through a diagonal plane away from the midline

Diagonal adduction:  Movement by a limb through a diagonal plane toward or across the midline

External rotation:  Rotary movement around the longitudinal axis of a bone away from the midline

Internal rotation:  Rotary movement around the longitudinal axis of a bone toward the midline

Movements of the ankle and foot

Eversion:  Turning the sole of the foot outward

Inversion:  Turning the sole of the foot inward or medially

Dorsiflexion:  Flexion of the ankle that moves the top of the foot toward the anterior tibia bone in the sagittal plane

Plantar Flexion:  Extension of the ankle that results in the foot and or toes moving away from the body in the sagittal plane

Movement of the Shoulder Girdle and Shoulder Joint

Depression:  Returning to normal after a shoulder shrug

Elevation:  Shrugging of the shoulders

Horizontal abduction:  Movement of the humerus in the horizontal or transverse plane away from the midline

Horizontal adduction:  Movement of the humerus in the transverse plane toward the midline

Protraction (Abduction):  Forward movement of the shoulder girdle in the horizontal/transverse plane away from the spine

Rectraction (Adduction):  Backward movement of the shoulder girdle in the horizontal/transverse plane toward the spine

Rotation downward:  Rotary movement of the scapula in the frontal plane with the inferior angle of the scapula moving medially and downward

Rotation upward:  Rotary movement of the scapula in the frontal plane with the inferior angle of the scapula moving laterally and upward

Movements of the spine

Lateral flexion:  Movement of the head or trunk in the frontal plane laterally away from midline

Reduction:  Return of the spinal column in the frontal plane to the anatomical position from lateral flexion

Movements of the wrist and hand

Dorsiflexion:  Extension movement of the wrist in the sagittal plane with the dorsal or posterior side of the hand moving toward the posterior side of the forearm

Palmar flexion:  Flexion movement of the wrist in the sagittal plane with the anterior side of the hand moving toward the anterior side of the forearm

Radial Deviation:  Abduction movement of the wrist in the frontal plane of the thumb side of the hand toward the forearm

Ulnar Deviation:  Adduction movement at the wrist in the frontal plane of the little finger side of the hand toward the forearm

Opposition of the thumb:  Diagonal movement of the thumb across the palmar surface of the hand to make contact with the fingers

Reposition of the thumb:  Diagonal movement of the thumb as it returns to the anatomical position from opposition with the hand/fingers