Exercise Science
Section 1: The Anatomical Position
An Introduction to Health and Physical
Education
Ted Temertzoglou
Paul Challen
ISBN 1-55077-132-9
©Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. 2003. All material is copyright protected. It is illegal to copy any of this material.
This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
The Anatomical Position
 Anatomical position: Anatomists and
physiologists view the human body in
this standard starting point
 Body in an upright standing position
 Face and feet pointing forward
 Arms at side and forearms fully
supinated (palms facing forward)
©Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. 2003. All material is copyright protected. It is illegal to copy any of this material.
This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Anatomical Planes
 Anatomical Planes relate to positions in
space and are at right angles to one
another:
 Transverse plane:
 Divides the body into superior and
inferior segments
 Sagittal plane:
 Divides the body into medial and
lateral segments
 Frontal plane:
 Divides the body into anterior and
posterior segments
©Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. 2003. All material is copyright protected. It is illegal to copy any of this material.
This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Anatomical Axes
 Anatomical Axes are used to describe the
direction of movement at joints:
 Longitudinal (polar) axis:
 In a “north-south” relationship to
the anatomical position
 Horizontal (bilateral) axis:
 In an “east-west” relationship to
the anatomical position
 Antero-posterior axis:
 In a “front-to-back” relationship to
the anatomical position
©Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. 2003. All material is copyright protected. It is illegal to copy any of this material.
This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Flexion – Extension
 Flexion: decreasing the angle
between two bones
 Extension: increasing the angle
between two bones
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Abduction – Adduction
 Abduction: moving away from
the midline
 Adduction: moving towards the
midline
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Internal Rotation – External Rotation
 Internal rotation: rotating inward
towards the midline
 External rotation: rotating
outward away from the midline
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Circumduction

Circumduction: circular motion
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Supination – Pronation
 Supination: lateral rotation of
the hand and forearm
 Pronation: medial rotation of the
hand and forearm
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Protraction – Retraction
 Protraction: moving in a forward
(anterior) position
 Retraction: moving in a
backward (posterior) position
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Dorsiflexion – Plantar Flexion
 Dorsiflexion: pointing the foot
upward
 Plantar flexion: pointing the foot
downward
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Describing Position and Movement
 Anterior: front surface of the body
 Posterior: back surface of the body
 Superior: refers to structures being closer
to the top of the body (excluding limbs)
 Inferior: refers to structures being closer to
the lower part of the body (excluding limbs)
 Medial: towards the midline or mid-sagittal
 Lateral: away from the midline or mid-
sagittal
 Proximal: towards the upper segment of a
limb
 Distal: towards the lower segment of a limb
©Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. 2003. All material is copyright protected. It is illegal to copy any of this material.
This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Relationship Between Axes and Planes
Axis of Rotation
Plane of Motion
Example
Horizontal (Bilateral)
Sagittal
Flexion/Extension
Longitudinal (Polar)
Transverse
Rotation of
extremities/Axial
rotation
Antero-Posterior
Frontal
Abduction/Adduction
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Finding Axes and Planes
 Axis of rotation is always
perpendicular to the plane of
movement
 In the anatomical position: all
flexion/extension occurs in the sagittal
plane, all abduction/adduction occurs
in the frontal plane, and all rotation
occurs in the transverse plane
 More involved movements usually
occur as a combination of motions
from more than one plane
Longitudinal Axis
90
Transverse Plane
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
Twirling
 What is the axis of rotation?
 Polar
 What is the plane of motion?
 Transverse
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This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
o
Various Planes of Movement
Stride Jump
Antero-Posterior
Frontal
Side Bend
Antero-Posterior
Frontal
Elbow extension
Bilateral
Sagittal
Nodding head “yes”
Bilateral
Sagittal
Twirling
Polar
Transverse
Shaking head “no”
Polar
Transverse
©Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. 2003. All material is copyright protected. It is illegal to copy any of this material.
This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.
©Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. 2003. All material is copyright protected. It is illegal to copy any of this material.
This material may be used only in a course of study in which Exercise Science: An Introduction to Health and Physical Education (Temertzoglou/Challen) is the required textbook.