Muscle Movements

Moving Muscles Each skeletal muscle is attached at no less than 2 places to bone or connective tissue. Origin is the attachment at the least movable point. Insertion is the attachment at the most moveable point(s).

Types of Body Movements Flexion & Extension Abduction & Adduction Rotation Circumduction Dorsiflexion & Plantarflexion Inversion & Eversion Supination & Pronation Opposition

Flexion & Extension Flexion – decreases the angle of a joint; brings two bones closer together Ex. bending arm at elbow Extension – increase the angle of a joint; moves two bones farther away Ex. straightening leg at knee

Flexion & Extension

Abduction & Adduction Abduction – movement away from the midline Ex. lifting arm to the side Adduction – movement towards the midline Ex. moving legs together

Abduction & Adduction

Rotation Rotation – movement around a longitudinal axis Ex. turning head

Circumduction Circumduction – moving a limb in a circle; combination of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction Ex. circling arms

Dorsiflexion & Plantar flexion Dorsiflexion – moving superior surface of foot towards the shin Ex. standing on heels Plantar flexion – flexing inferior surface of foot Ex. pointing toes

Dorsiflexion & Plantar flexion

Inversion & Eversion Inversion – turning foot medially Eversion – turning foot laterally

Supination & Pronation Supination – turning palm forwards to anatomical position; radius rotates over ulna so they are parallel Ex. moving palm to face anterior Pronation – turning palm backwards from anatomical position; radius rotates over ulna Ex. moving palm to face posterior

Supination & Pronation

Opposition Opposition – moving thumb to touch tips of other fingers Ex. picking up an object with your finger and thumb