4 Some Important Pairs

of Clinical
Terms
The terms of each pair have opposite
meanings and, as such, are frequently
confused in the minds of students.
Once you have learned these terms
thoroughly, they will become as much a
part of your vocabulary as right and
left and you will no longer have to
stop and figure out which is which in
any given pair
TERMS DESCRIBING
MOVEMENTS OF JOINT
Active and Passive
Movement
Abdction and Addction
Abduction is the movement of a part
away from the midline of the body
Adduction is the movement of a part
toward the midline of the body
Flexion and Extension
Dorsifexion and Plantar Flexion
Dorsiflexion is the movement of the
foot or toes in the direction of the dorsal
surface
Plantar flexion is the movement of the
hand or fingers in the direction of the
plantar surface
Palmar flexion is the movement of the
hand or fingers in the direction of the
palmar
Eversion and Inversion
Eversion is the turning of the plantar
surface of the foot outward in relation to
the leg
Inversion is the turning of the plantar
surface of the foot inward in relation to
the leg
Internal Rotation and External
Rotation
Internal rotation is the turning of the
anterior surface of the limb inward or
medially
External rotation is the turning of the
anterior surface of the limb outward or
laterally
Pronation and Supination
Pronation of the forearm is the turning
of the palmar surface of the hand
downward
Pronation of the forefoot usually refers
to a deformity in which the forefoot is
maintained in a position of eversion
Supination of the forearm is the turning
of the palmar surface of the hand upward
Supination of the forefoot usually refers
to a deformity in which the forefoot is
maintened in a position of inversion
TERMS DESCRIBING
DEFORMITIES IN !IMBS
Ca"canes and E#ins
Calcaneus is a deformity in which the
foot is maintained in a position of
dorsiflexion so that on weightbearing,
only the heel touches the floor
Equinus is a deformity in which the
foot is maintained in a position of plantar
flexion so that on weightbearing, only the
forefoot touches the floor
Cavus and Planus
Pes cavus is an exaggregation of the
normal arch of the foot, an unduly high
arch
Pes planus is a diminution of the
normal arc of the foot, an unduly low
arch, or flat foot
1
Internal and External Torsion
Internal torsional, is twisted inward or
medially
External torsional, is twisted outward or
laterally in relation to the anterior aspect
of its proimal end
Anteversion and Retroversion
emoral anterversion eists when the
!nee is directed anteriorly" the normal
nec! is directed anteriorly to some degree
emoral retroversion eists when the
!nee is directed anteriorly" the femoral
nec! is directed posteriorly to some degree
Angulation or Boing
Deformities
The ad#ective describing an angulation
or bowing deformity refers to the
direction in which the apex of the angle
points
!arus and !algus
!arus is an angulation that conforms to
an imaginary circle in which the patient
is placed
Cubitus varus is a decrease in the
normal carrying angle at the elbow
Coxa vara is a decrease in the femoral
nec!$shaft angle%&1'(
(
)
"enu varum is also called bow leg in
which the !nees are apart when the feet
are together.
#eel varus is a decrease in the normal
angle between the ais of the leg and
that of the heel, as in the position of
inversion
$alipes equinovarus is an inversion
deformity of the foot combined with an
equines or plantar fleion deformity of
the an!le %clubfoot)
%etatarsus varus is more properly called
metatarsus adductus$an adduction
deformity of the forefoot in relation to
the hind foot
#allux varus is an adduction deformity
of the great toe through *T+ #oint
!algus is an angulation that does not
conform to an imaginary circle in which
the patient is placed
Cubitus valgus is an increase in the
normal carrying angle at theelbow
Coxa valga is an increase in the
femoral nec!$shaft angle%,1'(
o
)
"enu valgum is also called !noc!$
!nee. In this condition, the feet are apart
when the !nees are together
#eel valgus is an increase in the
normal angle between the ais of the leg
and that of the heel, as in the position of
eversion
$alipes calcaneovalgus is an eversion
deformity of the foot combined with a
calcaneus or dorsoflei deformity of the
an!le
#allux valgus is an abduction
deformity of the great toe through the
*T+ #oint
The Anatomical Position
The starting, or -ero position, for most
#oints in the human
.
Thurman.H.Silalahi/Residen Orthopaedic/FKUI
'