Directional Terms and

Joint Movements
Miss Van Heuven
Horizontal vs. vertical
 Make sure that you know the difference between horizontal
and vertical!
 Horizontal (side to side)
 Vertical (up and down)

 Hint: To help you remember, think about the sun rising and
setting over the “horizon”
Anatomical directional terms
Anterior
 The front, or in front of

Posterior
 The back, or behind (towards the rear)
Anatomical directional terms
 Distal
 Away from, furthest from the origin

 Proximal
 Near, closest to the origin
Anatomical directional terms
 Superior
 Above, over

 Inferior
 Below, under
Anatomical directional terms
 Lateral
 Away from the mid-line (center)
 Towards the sides

 Medial
 Towards the mid-line (center)
 Away from the sides
PAUSE
 Pause for “Body Planes and Directional Terms” review

 (Use knee ligaments as an example)

Joints in our Bodies
 Wherever 2 or more bones meet = A skeletal joint
 There are many different types of joints that can move in very
different ways
 There are actually 18 different joint classifications
Types of Joint Movements
 Flexion
 Movement that decreases the angle between 2 bones
Types of Joint Movements
 Extension
 Movement that increases the angle between 2 bones
Types of Joint Movements
 Hyperextension
 Movement beyond the natural range of motion
Types of Joint Movements
 Abduction
 Movement of the limbs away from the middle of the body
 (Describes movement of limbs only)
Types of Joint Movements
 Adduction
 Movement of the limbs toward the middle of the body
 (Describes movement of limbs only)
Types of Joint Movements
 Rotation
 Movement of a bone on an axis, toward or away from the body
Types of Joint Movements
 Circumduction
 Circular movement of limbs around an axis
 The proximal portion of the limb remains stationary
 Proximal = where the limb attaches to the body
 The distal portion moves in a circle
 Distal = the point on the limb that is furthest from the proximal
attachment
Joint Movements Activity
 Pause for a class activity. (SIMON SAYS)
 Can students demonstrate knowledge of these joint
movements?
Teacher Slide
 Anterior
 Posterior
 Distal
 Proximal
 Horizontal
 Vertical
 Lateral
 Medial
 Superior
 Inferior
 Flexion
 Extension
 Hyper-extension
 Rotation
 Adduction
 Abduction
Types of Joint Movements
 Supination
 To turn upward
 To face a limb or body towards the ceiling
 Ex: Turn palm upward so that it faces the sky
Types of Joint Movements
 Pronation
 To turn downward
 To face a limb or body towards the ground
 Ex: turn palms downward so that they face the floor
Types of Joint Movements
 Plantar Flexion
 Movement that extends the foot
 Ex: Pointing your toes like a ballerina
Types of Joint Movements
 Dorsiflexion
 Movement that flexes the foot
 Ex: Try to touch your toes to the front of your shin
Types of Joint Movements
 Inversion
 Turns the sole of the foot inward (medially)
Types of Joint Movements
 Eversion
 Turns the sole of the foot outward (laterally)
Types of Joint Movements
 Protraction
 Moving a body part forward (in the transverse plane)
 Ex: shoulders and jaw
Types of Joint Movements
 Retraction
 Moving a body part backwards (in the transverse plane)
 Ex: Neck or jaw
Types of Joint Movements
 Elevation
 Lifting a body part upward (superiorly)
 (Occurs in the frontal plane)
 Ex: Shoulders
Types of Joint Movements
 Depression
 Moving a body part downward (inferiorly)
 (Occurs in the frontal plane)
 Ex: Shoulders
Types of Joint Movements
 Opposition
 Moves the thumb to the tips of the other fingers
 (That is why they are called “Opposable thumbs”)
TIME TO DANCE!
 Create a new dance
 Write down all of the moves using anatomical joint movement
cues
 Name your dance

 Perform it yourself or nominate someone in the room!!

Video
 Crash Course in the Skeletal System
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW46rQKWa-g