Easiest Way to Remember Movement Terms | Corporis

Summary

In this anatomical yoga video, Pat Kelly explains essential movement terms used to describe the motions of joints in the body. He emphasizes the importance of understanding terms like abduction, adduction, flexion, extension, rotation, and others in reference to the anatomic position. The video covers various body movements, from basic ones like shoulder flexion to more specific motions like pronation and supination, along with techniques to remember them. Additionally, Kelly touches on how these movements are assessed clinically, including active, passive, and resisted motions, offering valuable insights for anatomy students and professionals.

Takeaways

• 😀 Always refer to the anatomic position as a standard reference point for direction or motion in anatomy.
• 😀 Movement terms describe specific motions at joints, which require more precise language than simple terms like 'up' or 'down'.
• 😀 Abduction is moving a joint away from the body's midline, while adduction is moving it towards the midline.
• 😀 Flexion is decreasing the angle between two joints (like in the fetal position), while extension is increasing that angle.
• 😀 Medial rotation is internal rotation (moving towards the midline), and lateral rotation is external rotation (moving away from the midline).
• 😀 Supination involves rotating the palm upwards, while pronation is rotating it downwards, as if putting your hand into a 'pile'.
• 😀 The ankle joint allows for dorsiflexion (pointing toes upwards) and plantarflexion (pointing toes downwards).
• 😀 Inversion refers to turning the foot inward, while eversion refers to turning it outward.
• 😀 The scapula can elevate, depress, protract, or retract, which are intuitive movements of the shoulder blade.
• 😀 Circumduction is a circular movement that can happen at joints like the neck, shoulders, and hips.
• 😀 In clinical practice, it's important to differentiate between active, passive, and resisted motion to assess joint function.

Q & A

What is the anatomic position, and why is it important in anatomy?

The anatomic position refers to standing upright with feet forward, arms by your sides, palms facing forward, and head neutral, looking forward. It's essential because it serves as the reference point for describing motion and direction in the body. Using this standardized position ensures consistency in anatomical terms across various contexts and movements.

What is the difference between abduction and adduction?

Abduction is the movement of a joint away from the midline of the body, whereas adduction is the movement of a joint towards the midline. An easy way to remember is thinking of abduction as an alien abducting your arm, pulling it away from your body, and adduction as adding to the body's size, pulling it closer.

What are flexion and extension, and how are they different?

Flexion is the decrease in the angle between two joints, typically resulting in a bending motion, while extension increases the angle between two joints, often straightening the limb. An easy way to remember flexion is to think about the fetal position, where the hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, and wrists are all in flexion.

How does the term 'rotation' apply to joints like the shoulder and hip?

Rotation involves movement around an axis. For the shoulder and hip, medial (internal) rotation moves the limb towards the midline of the body, while lateral (external) rotation moves the limb away from the midline. The axis for this rotation runs through the long bone of the joint, such as the humerus for the shoulder or femur for the hip.

What is the difference between supination and pronation?

Supination refers to rotating the forearm or hand so the palm faces upwards, like holding a bowl of soup. Pronation is the opposite movement, where the palm faces downwards, often remembered by imagining a group of football players in a huddle.

What is the significance of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion in the ankle?

Dorsiflexion is the movement where the toes are brought upwards, towards the dorsal side of the foot (the back), while plantarflexion is when the toes point downward, towards the ground. These movements are crucial for walking, running, and balancing.

How do inversion and eversion relate to foot movement?

Inversion involves turning the foot inward, so the sole faces medially, while eversion turns the foot outward, so the sole faces laterally. A helpful way to remember inversion is thinking about how the body might 'trip over' when the foot turns in too much, and eversion is more stable, allowing for comfortable standing.

Why is the scapula's movement important, and what movements can it perform?

The scapula is essential for shoulder movement, and it can elevate, depress, protract, and retract. These movements are intuitive to understand because they involve the scapula moving upward or downward, forward or backward, contributing to the overall range of motion in the shoulder.

What does circumduction mean, and where does it occur?

Circumduction refers to a circular motion at joints, such as the shoulder, hip, or neck. It involves a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction, creating a circular movement pattern. This is commonly seen in activities like arm circles or leg swings.

What are active, passive, and resisted motions, and why do they matter in clinical assessments?

Active motion occurs when the patient moves a joint on their own, passive motion involves the clinician moving the joint for the patient, and resisted motion happens when resistance is applied to the movement. These distinctions are important for assessing range of motion, diagnosing conditions, and determining the functional limitations of a joint.