body movements (2024)

The following terms are used to describe body movements (see figure 17):• ABDUCTION: a movement away from the midline of the body. Abduction also refers to the spreading apart of fingers or toes• ADDUCTION: a movement towards the middle of the body. It also refers to movements of the fingers or toes when they are drawn closer together• CIRCUMDUCTION: a complex movement which combines abduction, adduction, extension, and flexion so that a limb, for example, follows a cone-shaped path. Circumduction incorporates all the movements of ball and socket joints (e.g. hips and shoulder)• DORSIFLEXION: a movement of the foot which brings the toes closer to the shin• EVERSION: turning the sole of the foot outwards• EXTENSION: straightening of a joint so that two bones move further apart• FLEXION: bending a joint so that two bones move closer together• INVERSION: turning the sole of the foot inwards• PLANTAR FLEXION: a movement of the foot which takes the toes further away from the shin; pointing the toes downwards• PRONATION: turning the wrist so that the palm faces downwards (or an inward rotation of the foot)• ROTATION: movement around the axis of a bone or body part. Movement towards the midline of the body is called medial (or internal) rotation; movement away from the midline is called lateral (or external) rotation• SUPINATION: turning the palm upwards (or an internal rotation of the foot).

• ABDUCTION: a movement away from the midline of the body. Abduction also refers to the spreading apart of fingers or toes

• ADDUCTION: a movement towards the middle of the body. It also refers to movements of the fingers or toes when they are drawn closer together

• CIRCUMDUCTION: a complex movement which combines abduction, adduction, extension, and flexion so that a limb, for example, follows a cone-shaped path. Circumduction incorporates all the movements of ball and socket joints (e.g. hips and shoulder)

• DORSIFLEXION: a movement of the foot which brings the toes closer to the shin

• EVERSION: turning the sole of the foot outwards

• EXTENSION: straightening of a joint so that two bones move further apart

• FLEXION: bending a joint so that two bones move closer together

• INVERSION: turning the sole of the foot inwards

• PLANTAR FLEXION: a movement of the foot which takes the toes further away from the shin; pointing the toes downwards

• PRONATION: turning the wrist so that the palm faces downwards (or an inward rotation of the foot)

• ROTATION: movement around the axis of a bone or body part. Movement towards the midline of the body is called medial (or internal) rotation; movement away from the midline is called lateral (or external) rotation

• SUPINATION: turning the palm upwards (or an internal rotation of the foot).

Figure 17 Body movements

From:body movementsin Food and Fitness: A Dictionary of Diet and Exercise »

Subjects:Medicine and health

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