268

CHAPTER 9

JOINTS

Its opposing movement is depression. Other bones that may be

elevated (or depressed) include the hyoid and ribs.
Depression (de-PRESH-un to press down) is an inferior movement of a part of the body, such as opening the mouth to depress
the mandible (Figure 9.9b) or returning shrugged shoulders to the
anatomical position to depress the scapula and clavicle.
Protraction (pro-TRAK-shun to draw forth) is a movement
of a part of the body anteriorly in the transverse plane. Its opposing movement is retraction. You can protract your mandible
at the temporomandibular joint by thrusting it outward (Figure 9.9c) or protract your clavicles at the acromioclavicular
and sternoclavicular joints by crossing your arms.
Retraction (re-TRAK-shun to draw back) is a movement of
a protracted part of the body back to the anatomical position
(Figure 9.9d).
Inversion (in-VER-zhun to turn inward) is movement of the
sole medially at the intertarsal joints (between the tarsals) (Figure 9.9e). Its opposing movement is eversion. Physical therapists
also refer to inversion combined with plantar flexion of the feet
as supination.
Eversion (e-VER-zhun to turn outward) is a movement of
the sole laterally at the intertarsal joints (Figure 9.9f). Physical
therapists also refer to eversion combined with dorsiflexion of
the feet as pronation.
Dorsiflexion (dor-si-FLEK-shun) refers to bending of the foot
at the ankle or talocrural joint (between the tibia, fibula, and
talus) in the direction of the dorsum (superior surface) (Figure9.9g). Dorsiflexion occurs when you stand on your heels.
Its opposing movement is plantar flexion.

Plantar flexion (PLAN-tar) involves bending of the foot at the

ankle joint in the direction of the plantar or inferior surface
(see Figure 9.9g), as when you elevate your body by standing
on your toes.
-shun) is a movement of the forearm at
Supination (soo-pi-NA
the proximal and distal radioulnar joints in which the palm is
turned anteriorly (Figure 9.9h). This position of the palms is
one of the defining features of the anatomical position. Its opposing movement is pronation.
-shun) is a movement of the forearm at the
Pronation (pro-NA
proximal and distal radioulnar joints in which the distal end of
the radius crosses over the distal end of the ulna and the palm
is turned posteriorly (Figure 9.9h).
Opposition (op-o-ZISH-un) is the movement of the thumb at
the carpometacarpal joint (between the trapezium and metacarpal of the thumb) in which the thumb moves across the palm
to touch the tips of the fingers on the same hand (Figure 9.9i).
These opposable thumbs allow the distinctive digital movement that gives humans and other primates the ability to grasp
and manipulate objects very precisely.
A summary of the movements that occur at synovial joints is
presented in Table 9.1.

CHECKPOINT

8. What are the four major categories of movements that

occur at synovial joints?
9. On yourself or with a partner, demonstrate each
movement listed in Table 9.1.

TABLE 9.1

Summary of Movements at Synovial Joints

MOVEMENT

DESCRIPTION

MOVEMENT

DESCRIPTION

Gliding

Movement of relatively flat bone surfaces

back-and-forth and side-to-side over one another;
little change in angle between bones.

Rotation

Movement of bone around longitudinal axis; in limbs,

may be medial (toward midline) or lateral (away from
midline).

Angular

Increase or decrease in angle between bones.

Special

Occurs at specific joints.

Flexion

Decrease in angle between articulating bones,

usually in sagittal plane.

Elevation

Superior movement of body part.

Depression

Inferior movement of body part.

Lateral flexion

Movement of trunk in frontal plane.

Protraction

Anterior movement of body part in transverse plane.

Extension

Increase in angle between articulating bones,

usually in sagittal plane.

Retraction

Posterior movement of body part in transverse plane.

Inversion

Medial movement of sole.

Hyperextension

Extension beyond anatomical position.

Abduction

Movement of bone away from midline, usually

in frontal plane.

Adduction

Movement of bone toward midline, usually in

frontal plane.

Circumduction

Flexion, abduction, extension, adduction, and

rotation in succession (or in the opposite order);
distal end of body part moves in circle.

Eversion

Lateral movement of sole.

Dorsiflexion

Bending foot in direction of dorsum (superior surface).

Plantar flexion

Bending foot in direction of plantar surface (sole).

Supination

Movement of forearm that turns palm anteriorly.

Pronation

Movement of forearm that turns palm posteriorly.

Opposition

Movement of thumb across palm to touch fingertips

on same hand.