Types of body movements: want to learn more about it?
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Types of body movements
Learning objectives
After completing this study unit you will learn how to:
1. Name the terms used to describe the main types of movements found in the human body.
2. Describe the movements performed by the major joints of the human body.
Watch a video
Our musculoskeletal system functions to propel our bodies within space and allows us to interact with the world around us. These movements occur at our synovial joints, as a result of muscles acting on our skeleton. Specific terms are given to each movement to help clearly communicate the way in which a joint is moving. Watch the following video to learn about the various types of movements occurring in the human body.
Take a quiz
Now that you have watched our videos on body movement check your knowledge by taking the following quiz.
Browse atlas
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:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/abduction-of-fingers/45E8kk77WtQNt93q0Q5iA_Abduction_of_fingers.png "Abduction of fingers (Abductio digitorum manus)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/abduction-of-leg/fu3HTvgYKlJPHY13NoJtAQ_Abduction_of_leg.png "Abduction of thigh (Abductio femoris)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/adduction-of-arm/s6O8oXAViAlydUbjMBHhg_Adduction_of_arm.png "Adduction of arm (Adductio brachii)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/adduction-of-fingers/OVlOBdj7sAho3shDZNOog_Adduction_of_fingers.png "Adduction of fingers (Adductio digitorum manus)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/adduction-of-leg/PnkinDmBoVVK9o33998fA_Adduction_of_leg.png "Adduction of thigh (Adductio femoris)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/circumduction-of-upper-limb/TQ3vi24np7eeaLDVSeZuxA_Circumduction__of_upper_limb_.png "Circumduction of upper limb (Circumductio membri superioris)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/depression-of-mandible/h1SpMUi4SrWADFKeJcziAQ_Depression_of_mandible.png "Depression of mandible (Depressio mandibulae)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/dorsiflexion-of-foot/LlG0lRUtlvvuA9A36i5m5Q_Dorsiflexion_of_foot.png "Dorsiflexion of foot (Dorsiflexio pedis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/elevation-of-mandible/LuTrHhVkNehkQ1CSirbqPg_Elevation_of_mandible.png "Elevation of mandible (Elevatio mandibulae)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/eversion-of-foot/JJFVZM3waanu7bd2V5GCmg_Eversion_of_foot.png "Eversion of foot (Eversio pedis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/extension-of-neck/A8Z6ElfivptjLuY5Hem8lg_Extension_of__neck.png "Extension of neck (Extensio cervicis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/extension-of-knee/NYHFgdghw5A5abWubEkAGg_Extension_of_knee.png "Extension of knee (Extensio articulationis genus)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/extension-of-shoulder/SFT2WUJpkogiO7bevYK4GA_Extension_of_shoulder.png "Extension of shoulder (Extensio articulationis glenohumeralis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/extension-of-vertebral-column/vGXbfLLejyrR0rQrI8gtag_Extension_of_vertebral_column.png "Extension of vertebral column (Extensio columnae vertebralis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/flexion-of-knee/ldiYtHYtg1S9JtrHjGbC6g_Flexion_of_knee.png "Flexion of knee (Flexio articulationis genus)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/flexion-of-neck/bRPl60AVcz6QIB9CahPn4A_Flexion_of_neck.png "Flexion of neck (Flexio cervicis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/flexion-of-shoulder/EYg81ESQR2BjBlwy2bfz6Q_Flexion_of_shoulder.png "Flexion of shoulder (Flexio articulationis glenohumeralis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/flexion-of-vertebral-column/rKUvb7AE5zy3rahFkVkS9w_Flexion_of_vertebral_column.png "Flexion of vertebral column (Flexio columnae vertebralis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/inversion-of-foot/XszmKovpxpQJ7XK3Symlg_Inversion_of_foot.png "Inversion of foot (Inversio pedis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lateral-rotation-of-arm/JbTMga4OaAXO8b3phcYsEQ_Lateral_rotation_of_arm.png "External rotation of arm (Rotatio externa brachii)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lateral-rotation-of-leg/gsvn2FYMn1YuHjmXcsaYiQ_Lateral_rotation_of_leg_.png "External rotation of thigh (Rotatio externa femoris)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/internal-rotation-of-arm/6YIgMAMBnWQc7kmPx219Dg_Medial_rotation_of_arm.png "Internal rotation of arm (Rotatio interna brachii)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/internal-rotation-of-leg/KCDEWUiL1Y04Mn88xub6g_Medial_rotation_of_leg.png "Internal rotation of thigh (Rotatio interna femoris)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/plantar-flexion-of-foot/pSP4hyc58sLLh4sFnHH7Q_Plantar_flexion__of_foot_.png "Plantar flexion of foot (Plantarflexio pedis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pronation-of-forearm/lXLk762soEQ2vgnetkurw_Pronation_of_forearm.png "Pronation of forearm (Pronatio antebrachii)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/protraction-of-mandible/lDK6tY7IeHYNVnD0oqYZRQ_Protraction_of_mandible.png "Protrusion of mandible (Protrusio mandibulae)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/radial-flexion/mP2NRAFGEhdTdVxJwrrQ7g_Radial_flexion.png "Radial flexion (Flexio radialis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/retraction-of-mandible/Oxo7Z4tvJWmGk4j6EeJKQ_Retraction_of_mandible.png "Retrusion of mandible (Retrusio mandibulae)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/rotation-of-head/5VVnXzmJ12jinS3t7MCrA_Rotation_of_head.png "Rotation of head (Rotatio capitis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/supination-of-forearm/jFsxndth6mQOBlSFItlNg_Supination_of_forearm.png "Supination of forearm (Supinatio antebrachii)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/opposition-of-thumb/rz1BBFbMvne3pmT4qYixg_Thumb_opposition.png "Opposition of thumb (Oppositio pollicis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/reposition-of-thumb/pff1vMYAq0Smmw8I9MR6OA_Thumb_reposition.png "Reposition of thumb (Repositio pollicis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/unlar-flexion/9qPXVo56LEdjxhLrmjpXwg_Ulnar_flexion.png "Ulnar flexion (Flexio ulnaris)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lateral-flexion-of-the-neck/lZwJImT4hDeQDO5jBCgXIg_neck1.png "Lateral flexion of the neck (Flexio lateralis cervicis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lateral-flexion-of-the-spine/5KcGasiO4tnyVQuiCOWxw_spine_flexion.png "Lateral flexion of the spine (Flexio lateralis columnae vertebralis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/rotation-of-the-spine/HmkJbQhBKpQSh48bMA4cQ_spine_rotation.png "Rotation of the spine (Rotatio columnae vertebralis)"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Terminology of movements |
Flexion / extension Lateral (external) rotation / internal (medial) rotation Abduction / adduction Pronation / supination Elevation / depression Protraction / retraction Plantarflexion / dorsiflexion Eversion / inversion Opposition / reposition Lateral flexion Rotation Circumduction |
| Movement at the major joints |
Shoulder; flexion extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, external rotation, circumduction Elbow; flexion extension Proximal radioulnar joint; pronation, supination Wrist; flexion, extension, adduction and abduction Hip; flexion extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, external rotation, circumduction Knee; Flexion, extension (small degree of internal-external rotation when knee is flexed) Ankle; dorsiflexion, plantarflexion Subtalar joint; inversion, eversion Spine; flexion, extension, rotation and lateral flexion, rotation (greatest at the atlantoaxial joint) Mandible; elevation, depression, protraction, retraction Scapula: protraction, retraction, elevation, depression, upward rotation, and downward rotation |
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:format(jpeg)/images/article/en/pronation-and-supination/G3QAemLnKqHdhWMIGse7A_QapMmcDllEEkw8rNuLTEhA_Elbow.png)
:format(jpeg)/images/study_unit/main-joints-of-the-human-body/uM3KoGgQY3aANxtIDq5GBg_Main_joints.png)
:format(jpeg)/images/study_unit/types-of-synovial-joints/9h4ulZVcpD8swLc8Vfn13g_T1020_FINAL.png)