Dorsiflexion and Plantar Flexion

Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion are movements at the ankle joint, which is a hinge joint. Lifting the front of the foot, so that the top of the foot moves toward the anterior leg is dorsiflexion, while lifting the heel of the foot from the ground or pointing the toes...

Supination and Pronation

Supination and pronation are movements of the forearm. In the anatomical position, the upper limb is held next to the body with the palm facing forward. This is the supinated position of the forearm. In this position, the radius and ulna are parallel to each other....

Flexion and Extension

Flexion and extension are movements that take place within the sagittal plane and involve anterior or posterior movements of the body or limbs. For the vertebral column, flexion (anterior flexion) is an anterior (forward) bending of the neck or body, while extension...

Abduction and Adduction

Abduction and adduction motions occur within the coronal plane and involve medial-lateral motions of the limbs, fingers, toes, or thumb.  Abduction moves the limb laterally away from the midline of the body,Adduction is the opposing movement that brings the limb...

Ball-and-Socket Joint

Multiaxial joint; allows flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, circumduction, and medial/ lateral rotation movements. Only 2 joints of the body: Shoulder and hip joints.   The joint with the greatest range of motion is the ball-and-socket joint. At these joints, the...

Plane Joint – Arthrodial Joint

Multiaxial joint; allows inversion and eversion of foot, or flexion, extension, and lateral flexion of the vertebral column. Examples: Intertarsal joints of foot; superior-inferior articular process articulations between vertebrae.   At a plane joint (gliding joint),...