AQA AS PE and Sport PED 1 Anatomy

Classification of Movement
Today we are going to look at how we describe the movements of the body and the
special terms used to explain the movements taking place.
By the end of this lesson you should be able to:
 Locate 12 anatomical regions of the human body
 Interpret anatomical planes of the body and apply each of them to at least one
action in your own sport
 Interpret anatomical axes of the body and apply each of them to at least one
action in your own sport
 Demonstrate each movement pattern in each of the appropriate planes of
movement

Terms of Direction
When describing the regions of the body we use terms relative to the ‘anatomical
positions’ of the body. The starting point for these positions refer to a person standing
upright, facing forward, arms positioned down by the sides with the palms of the
hands facing forward.

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AQA AS PE and Sport PED 1 Anatomy

These descriptions apply to all parts of the body. For example, you may have heard
of the superior vena cava, the vein that feeds blood from the upper body into the
right atrium of the heart, whereas the inferior vena cava supplies blood from the
lower body (we will be learning more about this in future lessons).

Activity 1 - pairs
Using sticky labels place the following labels on the appropriate region of your
partner’s body:
1. The lateral aspect of the knee joint
2. The medial aspect of the ankle joint
3. The proximal region of the index finger
4. The distal region of the big toe
5. The posterior aspect of the upper leg
6. The anterior aspect of the lower leg
7. The most superior point of the body
8. The most inferior point of the body

Check your answers with another pair. Do you disagree on any of the answers?
Discuss your answers and decide which are positions are correct for each label.

Feedback your answers to the whole group.

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AQA AS PE and Sport PED 1 Anatomy
Planes and Axes

Planes
When explaining the body’s movements it is
useful to imagine the body as having a series of
lines running through it – known as the planes of
movement. These imaginary lines divide the
body in three ways (see figure A). Remember
the starting position of the body when you think
of these lines.
1. The medial or sagittall plane splits the body
vertically into left and right sides
2. The horizontal or transverse plane divides
the body into superior and inferior sections
and runs horizontally.
3. The frontal or coronal plane runs vertically
and divides the body into anterior and
posterior sections.
The whole body or individual body parts can
move in these planes and so knowledge of them
is important to coach and athlete. For example in
gymnastics movement in all planes may occur in
full twisting somersaults.

Figure A: Anatomical planes and axes

Question: Think about your own sport. What planes of movement do the main
actions take place in?
Discuss your thoughts with your neighbour. What other sporting movements can you
think of where knowledge of planes of movement would be useful?

Feedback to whole group.

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AQA AS PE and Sport PED 1 Anatomy
Axes
The body (or body parts) can also rotate about one of three axes in the body (see
figure A).

A front somersault is performed about the

horizontal axis.

A full twisting jump involves the body

rotating about the longitudinal axis

A cartwheel is performed about the anterior-

posterior or frontal axis

Question: Again think about your own sport. What axes of rotation do the main
actions take place around?

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AQA AS PE and Sport PED 1 Anatomy
This table summarises the movement patterns which occur in each of the body’s
planes

(Wesson et al, 2005)

Activity
Using this table you should work through all of the movement patterns. Are you sure
you know what each movement is when it takes place in different planes?

Using all of this new information you should now go back to your Movement Analysis
table. With your partner think about sporting activities and movement patterns.
Using the 7 movements required by AQA, identify which plane and axes these
movements occur in!
Are there any more columns you can now fill in?

Discuss your answers with the pair next to you. Do you have the same answers? If
not discuss the ones you disagree on and come to a decision as to which are the
right answers.

Lecturer: Stef Cooke Page 5 of 5