1. Directional and Anatomical Location Terminology

2. Anatomical Position Anatomical position Body standing erect (upright)
Standard reference point
Body standing erect (upright)
Facing forward
Arms at side
Palms and toes directed forward

3. Reference Positions Fundamental position Relative angle
Similar to anatomical position
Arms more relaxed
Palms face inward
Relative angle
Included angle between two segments 3

4. Cardinal Planes Sagittal Left and right halves Mediolateral axis
Midsagittal plane
Frontal (coronal)
Front and back halves
Anteroposterior axis
Transverse (horizontal)
Upper and lower halves
Longitudinal axis
Many other planes exist 4

5. Cranial
Caudal
Superior
Inferior

6. Anterior:
Posterior:

7. Ventral:
Dorsal:

8. Superficial
Deep

9. Medial:
Lateral:

10. Distal:
Proximal:

11. Ipsilateral – on the same side
Contralateral – on opposite sides

12. Flexion & Extension Flexion Extension Hyperflexion Hyperextension
Decreasing joint angle
Extension
Increasing joint angle
Hyperflexion
Flexion beyond normal range
Hyperextension
Extension beyond normal range 12

13. Abduction & Adduction Abduction Adduction Hyperabduction
Moving away from midline
Adduction
Moving toward midline
Hyperabduction
Abduction past 180° point
Hyperadduction
Adduction past 0° point 13

14. Movement Descriptors Circumduction: Movement in a conic fashion
Combination of flex, ext, abd, add, IR, ER

15. Movement Descriptors Inversion Eversion Lift medial edge of foot
Lift lateral edge of foot

16. Movement Descriptors Plantarflexion Dorsiflexion
Increase angle between foot and shank
Dorsiflexion
Decrease angle between foot and shank

17. Movement of the Scapulae
Elevation – raising the scapula (shrug)
Depression – lowering the scapula

18. Movement of the Scapulae
Protraction – move scapulae apart
Retraction – move scapulae together

19. Movement of the Scapulae
Upward rotation – bottom of scapula moves away from trunk
Downward rotation – return to normal

20. Other Movement Descriptors
Horizontal adduction
Combination of flexion and adduction
Horizontal abduction
Combination of extension and abduction

21. Other Movement Descriptors
Rotation
Medial (internal) or lateral (external)
Right/left for head and trunk
Shoulder or hip 21

22. Other Movement Descriptors
Medial/Internal Rotation: rotation of the bone inward around the long axis of the bone

23. Other Movement Descriptors
Lateral/External Rotation: rotation of the bone outward around the long axis of the bone

24. Specialized Movement Descriptors
Lateral Flexion:
Head or trunk only
Example: head tilts sideways

25. Specialized Movement Descriptors
Supination – turn palms frontward
Pronation – turn palms backward
Radial flexion – hand toward thumb
Ulnar flexion – hand toward little finger
Opposition – Thumb to little finger

26. Movement Descriptors of the Foot
Plantarflexion
Increase angle between foot and shank
Dorsiflexion
Decrease angle between foot and shank
Inversion
Lift medial edge of foot
Eversion
Lift lateral edge of foot 26

27. Pronation and Supination of the Foot
Pronation and supination of the feet are not the same as inversion and eversion
Pronation of the foot
Dorsiflexion at the ankle
Eversion in the tarsals
Abduction of the forefoot
Supination of the foot
Plantarflexion at the ankle
Inversion in the tarsals
Adduction of the forefoot 27

28. Specialized Movement Descriptors
Anterior Tilt
Posterior Tilt
Lateral Tilt

29. Degrees of Freedom Degree of freedom 1 degree of freedom
Number of planes in which a joint has the ability to move
1 degree of freedom
Uniaxial
Example: Elbow
2 degrees of freedom
Biaxial
Example: Wrist
3 degrees of freedom
Triaxial
Example: Shoulder 29

30. Planes, Directions and Positions
Planes of Movement
Sagittal
Frontal
Transverse
Directions and Positions
Superior
Inferior
Posterior
Anterior

31. Directions and Positions
Proximal
Distal
Medial
Lateral
Superficial
Deep

32. Movements/Body - Spine and Thorax, Neck
Movements of the Body
Spine and Thorax
(vertebral column)
Neck
(cervical spine)

33. Movements/Body - Ribs/Thorax
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34. Movements/Body - Scapula
(scapulothoracic joint)

35. Movements/Body - Shoulder
(glenohumeral joint)

36. Movements/Body - Elbow and Forearm
(humeroulnar and humeroradial joints – elbow, proximal and distal radioulnar joints – forearm)

37. Movements/Body - Wrist
(radiocarpal joint)

38. Movements/Body - Thumb and Fingers
(first carpometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints)
Fingers
(metacarpophalangeal, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints)

39. Movements/Body - Mandible and Pelvis
(temporomandibular joint)
Pelvis

40. Movements/Body - Hip
Hip
(coxal joint)

41. Movements/Body - Knee
Knee
(tibiofemoral joint)

42. Movements/Body - Ankle, Foot and Toes
(talocrural, talotarsal, midtarsal, tarsometatarsal, metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints)

43. Types of Joints Types of Joints Ball-and-Socket Joint Ellipsoid Joint
Saddle Joint
Hinge Joint
Gliding Joint
Pivot Joint