Movements of Joints
| Home |Chapter: HAP - Osseous system
Joint movements allow the body to change position and perform actions. The main movements of joints include flexion (bending), extension (straightening), abduction (movement away from the midline), adduction (movement toward the midline), rotation (turning around an axis), and circumduction (circular movement). Special movements include pronation and supination (forearm), dorsiflexion and plantar flexion (ankle), and inversion and eversion (foot).
MOVEMENTS
OF JOINTS
Joints permit various movements described
by directional terms:
Gliding Movements
- Two
relatively flat surfaces slide past one another (e.g., between carpal
bones).
Angular Movements
- Flexion: Decreases the angle between bones
(bending elbow).
- Extension: Increases the angle (straightening
elbow).
- Abduction: Movement away from midline (raising
arm laterally).
- Adduction: Movement toward midline (lowering arm
toward body).
- Circumduction: Circular movement combining flexion,
extension, abduction and adduction.
Rotational Movements
- Medial
(internal) rotation:
Turning a limb toward the midline.
- Lateral
(external) rotation:
Turning a limb away from midline.
- Pronation
/ Supination (forearm):
Pronation turns palm posteriorly/downward; supination turns palm
anteriorly/upward.
