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Abduction – Movement of a body part away from the midline of the body in the frontal
plane.
Adduction – Movement of a body part toward the midline of the body in the frontal plane.
Flexion – Movement that decreases the angle at a joint.
Extension – Movement that increases the angle at a joint.
Hyperextension – Extension beyond the normal anatomical range of motion.
Circumduction – A combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction in a circular
motion.
Internal rotation – Rotation of a joint so that the anterior surface moves toward the
midline.
External rotation – Rotation of a joint so that the anterior surface moves away from the
midline.
Horizontal abduction – Movement of the arm or thigh in the transverse plane away from
the midline of the body.
Horizontal adduction – Movement of the arm or thigh in the transverse plane toward the
midline of the body.
Dorsiflexion – Movement at the ankle that brings the top of the foot toward the shin.
Plantarflexion – Movement at the ankle that points the toes downward.
Inversion – Movement of the sole of the foot inward at the ankle.
Eversion – Movement of the sole of the foot outward at the ankle.
Pronation – Rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces downward or backward.
Supination – Rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces upward or forward.
Upward rotation – Rotation of the scapula in the frontal plane where the inferior angle
moves laterally and upward.
Downward rotation – Rotation of the scapula in the frontal plane where the inferior angle
moves medially and downward.
,Scapular elevation – Movement of the scapula upward (shoulder shrug).
Scapular depression – Movement of the scapula downward.
Protraction – Movement of the scapula away from the midline of the body (abduction of
the scapula).
Retraction – Movement of the scapula toward the midline of the body (adduction of the
scapula).
Angular displacement – The change in angular position during a specific time interval.
Angular velocity – The rate of change of angular displacement; angular displacement
divided by time.
Angular acceleration – The rate of change of angular velocity; angular displacement divided
by time squared.
Linear displacement – The straight-line distance between two points in a specific direction.
Linear velocity – The distance traveled per unit of time along a straight line.
Radians – The ratio of the arc length to the radius; approximately 57.3 degrees.
Lateral rotation – Same as external rotation; rotation away from the midline.
Medial rotation – Same as internal rotation; rotation toward the midline.
Glenohumeral abduction – Movement of the humerus away from the midline of the body
at the shoulder.
Glenohumeral adduction – Movement of the humerus toward the midline of the body at
the shoulder.
Glenohumeral flexion – Forward movement of the humerus at the shoulder joint.
Glenohumeral extension – Backward movement of the humerus at the shoulder joint.
Glenohumeral hyperextension – Extension of the humerus beyond the normal anatomical
position.
Glenohumeral circumduction – Circular movement of the humerus at the shoulder joint.
Hip abduction – Movement of the thigh away from the midline of the body at the hip.
Hip adduction – Movement of the thigh toward the midline of the body at the hip.
Hip flexion – Forward movement of the thigh at the hip joint.
Hip extension – Backward movement of the thigh at the hip joint.
Hip hyperextension – Extension of the thigh beyond the normal anatomical position.
,Hip circumduction – Circular movement of the thigh at the hip joint.
Hip internal rotation – Rotation of the thigh at the hip so that the anterior surface moves
toward the midline.
Hip external rotation – Rotation of the thigh at the hip so that the anterior surface moves
away from the midline.
Knee flexion – Movement that decreases the angle at the knee joint (bending the knee).
Knee extension – Movement that increases the angle at the knee joint (straightening the
knee).
Knee hyperextension – Extension of the knee beyond the normal anatomical position.
Ankle dorsiflexion – Movement at the ankle that brings the top of the foot toward the shin.
Ankle plantarflexion – Movement at the ankle that points the toes downward.
Subtalar inversion – Movement of the sole of the foot inward at the subtalar joint.
Subtalar eversion – Movement of the sole of the foot outward at the subtalar joint.
Forearm pronation – Rotation of the radius over the ulna so that the palm faces downward.
Forearm supination – Rotation of the radius and ulna so that the palm faces upward.
Elbow flexion – Movement that decreases the angle at the elbow joint.
Elbow extension – Movement that increases the angle at the elbow joint.
Wrist flexion – Movement that decreases the angle at the wrist joint (bending the palm
toward the forearm).
Wrist extension – Movement that increases the angle at the wrist joint (bending the palm
away from the forearm).
Wrist hyperextension – Extension of the wrist beyond the normal anatomical position.
Radial deviation – Movement of the wrist toward the thumb side.
Ulnar deviation – Movement of the wrist toward the little finger side.
Cervical flexion – Forward movement of the neck at the cervical spine.
Cervical extension – Backward movement of the neck at the cervical spine.
Cervical hyperextension – Extension of the neck beyond the normal anatomical position.
Cervical lateral flexion – Bending of the neck to the side.
Cervical rotation – Turning of the neck to the left or right.
, Trunk flexion – Forward bending of the trunk at the lumbar spine.
Trunk extension – Backward bending of the trunk at the lumbar spine.
Trunk hyperextension – Extension of the trunk beyond the normal anatomical position.
Trunk lateral flexion – Bending of the trunk to the side.
Trunk rotation – Twisting of the trunk to the left or right.
Pelvic tilt – Rotation of the pelvis in the sagittal plane.
Anterior pelvic tilt – Forward rotation of the pelvis.
Posterior pelvic tilt – Backward rotation of the pelvis.
Lateral pelvic tilt – Rotation of the pelvis in the frontal plane.
Shoulder girdle elevation – Movement of the shoulder girdle upward.
Shoulder girdle depression – Movement of the shoulder girdle downward.
Shoulder girdle protraction – Movement of the shoulder girdle away from the midline.
Shoulder girdle retraction – Movement of the shoulder girdle toward the midline.
Sternoclavicular joint elevation – Movement of the clavicle upward at the sternoclavicular
joint.
Sternoclavicular joint depression – Movement of the clavicle downward at the
sternoclavicular joint.
Sternoclavicular joint protraction – Forward movement of the clavicle at the
sternoclavicular joint.
Sternoclavicular joint retraction – Backward movement of the clavicle at the
sternoclavicular joint.
Acromioclavicular joint rotation – Rotation of the scapula at the acromioclavicular joint.
Scapulothoracic joint abduction – Movement of the scapula away from the spine.
Scapulothoracic joint adduction – Movement of the scapula toward the spine.
Scapulothoracic joint upward rotation – Rotation of the scapula with the inferior angle
moving laterally and upward.
Scapulothoracic joint downward rotation – Rotation of the scapula with the inferior angle
moving medially and downward.
Scapulothoracic joint elevation – Movement of the scapula upward.
Scapulothoracic joint depression – Movement of the scapula downward.