172 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
• Rotational movements occur in the transverse
plane.
As we learned in chapter 1, the frame of
reference for all movement is the anatomical
position. In this position the human body is erect
with the hands at the sides and the palms facing
forward.
Sagittal Plane Movements
The primary sagittal plane (forward/
backward) movements are fl exion (FLEHK-
shun), extension, and hyperextension
(Figure 5.14). Flexion describes forward-bending
motion of the head, trunk, upper arm, forearm,
hand, and hip; and backward motion of the lower
leg at the knee. In fl exion movements, body
surfaces are coming together. Extension returns
body segments from a position of fl exion to
anatomical position. Hyperextension continues
the extension motion past anatomical position.
Two movements of the foot also occur
primarily in the sagittal (SAJ-i-tal) plane.
Bringing the top of the foot toward the lower leg
is called dorsifl exion (DOR-si-FLEHK-shun),
and moving the foot in the opposite direction
away from the lower leg is called plantar fl exion
(Figure 5.14).
1. Which end of the muscle typically
moves?
2. Defi ne anatomical position.
3. What are the three major anatomical
planes?
Check Your Understanding
Memory Tip
Planting the ball of the foot is the
motion involved in plantar fl exion.
are called abduction. Oppositely directed
movements that bring the arm and leg closer to
the midline of the body are called adduction.
Memory Tip
Just as abduct means “to take away,”
abduction takes a body segment away
from the body. Just as add means “to bring
back,” adduction returns a body segment
closer to the body.
Frontal Plane Movements
Common movements in the frontal plane
include abduction and adduction (Figure 5.14).
Movements at the shoulder and hip that take the
arm and leg away from the midline of the body
Movements of the foot that occur mainly
in the frontal plane are inversion and eversion.
Rolling the sole of the foot inward is inversion,
while rolling the sole of the foot outward is
eversion (Figure 5.14).
Frontal plane movements of the hand at
the wrist are called radial deviation and ulnar
deviation. Recall from chapter 4 that the forearm
has two bones—the radius and the ulna. The
radius is on the thumb side of the hand, and
the ulna is on the “little fi nger” side of the arm.
From anatomical position, with the palms facing
forward, abduction of the hand toward the
thumb is called radial deviation, and adduction of
the hand toward the little fi nger is called ulnar
deviation (Figure 5.14).
Trunk and neck motions away from
anatomical position in the frontal plane are
called lateral fl exion and side bending. Return
from a position of lateral fl exion to anatomical
position is called lateral extension.
Transverse Plane Movements
Transverse plane movements mostly involve
rotation around the long axis of a body segment.
When the head or trunk rotate from side to side,
the movement is simply called left or right rotation.
Rotation of an arm or a leg in the transverse
plane is called medial rotation if the rotation is
directed medially, or inward, and lateral rotation
if the movement is directed laterally, or outward
(Figure 5.14). The special terms used for rotation
of the forearm are pronation for medial (palm
down) rotation and supination (SOO-pi-NAY-
shun) for lateral (palm up) rotation (Figure 5.14).