Anatomy Movement Terms Quiz

Anatomy Movement Terms

Muscle Contraction

Muscles are composed of bundles of muscle fibers enclosed in a sheath of connective tissue. Muscles contract to produce movement at joints, and the subsequent movements can be precisely described using anatomical terms of motion. The terms used assume that the body begins in the anatomical position. Muscles have two main actions: contraction or relaxation. When a muscle contracts, it shortens and produces force, which causes a joint to move.

Anatomical Terms of Motion

Flexion and Extension

Flexion and extension are movements that occur in the sagittal plane and refer to increasing and decreasing the angle between two body parts. Flexion is a movement that decreases the angle between two body parts, such as bending the elbow or knee. Extension is a movement that increases the angle between two body parts, such as straightening the elbow or knee.

Abduction and Adduction

Abduction and adduction are two terms used to describe movements towards or away from the midline of the body. Abduction is a movement away from the midline, like raising the arms out to the sides of the body. Adduction is a movement towards the midline, like squeezing the legs together.

Medial and Lateral Rotation

Medial and lateral rotation describe movement of the limbs around their long axis. Medial rotation is a rotational movement towards the midline, such as pointing the toes inward. Lateral rotation is a rotating movement away from the midline.

Circumduction

Circumduction is a conical movement of a limb extending from the joint at which the movement is controlled. It is sometimes talked about as a circular motion, but is more accurately conical due to the 'cone' formed by the moving limb.

Protraction and Retraction

Protraction and retraction describe the movement of the shoulder region. Protraction is the movement of 'reaching out' to something, while retraction is the movement of 'picking something up'.

Joint Movement

Ball-and-Socket Joints

Ball-and-socket joints, such as the shoulder and hip joints, allow for flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, circumduction, and medial and lateral rotation. These joints have the greatest range of motion of all synovial joints.

Other Synovial Joints

Other types of synovial joints, such as hinge joints (e.g., elbow joint) and gliding joints (e.g., wrist joint), also allow for a range of movements, including flexion, extension, and rotation.

Test your knowledge on muscle contractions, anatomical terms of motion, and joint movements. Explore the concepts of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, medial and lateral rotation, circumduction, protraction, retraction, and different types of synovial joints.