Anatomical Terms for Body
Movements
• Movements of the body parts occur at joints
• Flexion: Decreasing the angle at a joint e.g. bringing the forearm near to arm at
elbow joint
• Extension: Increasing the angle
at a joint e.g. straightening the
leg at knee joint
• Abduction: Moving limb away
from midline of body e.g. moving
the upper limb away from body
at shoulder joint
• Adduction: Moving limb
towards midline of body e.g.
Bringing upper limb towards
body at shoulder joint
Movements
• Movements of the body parts occur at joints
• Flexion: Decreasing the angle at a joint e.g. bringing the forearm near to arm at
elbow joint
• Extension: Increasing the angle
at a joint e.g. straightening the
leg at knee joint
• Abduction: Moving limb away
from midline of body e.g. moving
the upper limb away from body
at shoulder joint
• Adduction: Moving limb
towards midline of body e.g.
Bringing upper limb towards
body at shoulder joint
