Location & Movement Terminology

Movement

Movement Terminology

Flexion / Extension

• Flexion — Decreases joint angle (Usually moves a body part forward except in the case of the knee which moves backward)
• Extension — Returns joint to resting position
• Hyperextension — Moving beyond normal, healthy range of motion

Adduction / Abduction

• Adduction — Moves a part of the body toward the midline
• Abduction — Moves a body part away from the midline

Internal Rotation / External Rotation

• Internal / Medial Rotation — Moves toward the midline
• External / Lateral Rotation — Moves away from the midline

Pronation / Supination

• Pronation — Moves palms posteriorly or face-down
• Supination — Moves palms anteriorly or face-up

Pronation and supination, while used mainly for forearm movements, also apply to the feet but refer here to a more complex combination of movements. Pronation of the foot is a combination of dorsiflexion, eversion, and abduction—that is, the toes are elevated and turned away from the other foot and the sole is tilted away. Supination of the foot is a combination of plantar flexion, inversion, and adduction—the toes are lowered and turned toward the other foot and the sole is tilted toward it. These may seem a little difficult to visualize and perform, but they are ordinary motions in walking, running, ballet, and crossing uneven surfaces such as stepping stones. Pronation and supination allow the foot to maintain normal contact with the ground when in different stances or when standing on irregular surfaces. – HealthJade.com 

Location

Lateral / Medial

• Lateral – Away from the midline
• Medial – Toward the midline

Anterior / Posterior

• Anterior – In front
• Posterior – Behind

Distal / Proximal

• Distal – Away from, farther from the origin
• Proximal – Near, closer to the origin

Superior / Inferior

• Superior – Above, over
• Inferior – Below, under

Superficial / Deep

• Superficial – Toward the skin
• Deep – Inside body

Ventral / Dorsal

• Ventral – On front of body
• Dorsal – On back of body