Terms of movement

There are a number of movements produced by muscle contraction that have specific names in anatomical terminology.

• Flexion: it is the approximation of two surfaces or the making of an angle.
• Extension: the return back from flexion and increasing the angle between body parts the straightening.

• Abduction: moving away from the central axis.
• Adduction: moving towards the central axis.
• Medial rotation: rotation towards the median plane.
• Lateral rotation: rotation away from the median plane.

• Supination: lateral rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces anteriorly.
• Pronation: medial rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces posteriorly.
• Inversion: the sole faces in a medial direction.
• Eversion: the sole faces in a lateral direction.

• Circumduction: It is the combination of flexion, extension,abduction and adduction that produces a circular motion.

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