• An Introduction to Health and Physical
Education
• Ted Temertzoglou
• ISBN 1-55077-132-9
Paul Challen

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)

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
 Sometimes referred to as a crosssectional view
 Sagittal plane :
 Divides the body into right and left segments can be (millions of sagittal planes are possible)
 Mid-sagittal plane – divides the body into two perfect halves at the mid-line
 Frontal (coronal) plane :
 Divides the body into anterior and posterior segments

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

Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Flexion - Extension
 Flexion : decreasing the angle between two bones
 Extension : increasing the angle between two bones

Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Abduction – Adduction – Lateral Flexion
 Abduction : moving away from the midline
 Adduction : moving towards the midline
 Lateral Flexion: moving the spine or neck away from the midline (also sometimes called abduction)

Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Rotation - Internal Rotation - External Rotation
 Internal rotation : rotating inward towards the midline (also called medial rotation)
 External rotation : rotating outward away from the midline
(also called lateral rotation)
 Rotation: moving a part around an axis

Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Circumduction
 Circumduction : circular motion (combination of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction)

Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Supination - Pronation
 Supination : lateral rotation of the hand and forearm
 Pronation : medial rotation of the hand and forearm

Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Protraction - Retraction
 Protraction : moving in a forward (anterior) position
 Retraction : moving in a backward (posterior) position

Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Dorsiflexion - Plantar Flexion
 Dorsiflexion : pointing the foot upward
 Plantar flexion : pointing the foot downward

Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Opposition and Reposition
Opposition : moving thumb toward the fingers
Reposition : returning thumb back to anatomical position

Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Depression - Elevation
Depression : lowering a part
Elevation : raising a part

Basic Movements Involving a Joint
Inversion - Eversion
Inversion : moving the sole of the foot toward the median plane
Eversion : moving the sole of the foot away from the median plane
Inversion

In terms of RUNNING:
Some salespeople will refer to the “gait” or running pattern using the following terms:
Pronation = dorsiflexion + abduction + eversion
Supination = plantarflexion + adduction + inversion

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 midsagittal
Proximal : towards the upper segment of a limb
Distal : towards the lower segment of a limb

Other Terms: (these aren’t in your workbook!)
Deep - away from the surface/further into the body
Superficial – on the surface or shallow
Supine – lying with the back surface downward (face-up)
Prone – with the front surface downward (face-down)

Relationship Between Axes and Planes
Axis of Rotation Plane of Motion
Horizontal (Bilateral) Sagittal
Longitudinal (Polar) Transverse
Antero-Posterior Frontal
Example
Flexion/Extension
Rotation of extremities/Axial rotation
Abduction/Adduction

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
Transverse Plane
90 o

Twirling


What is the axis of rotation?
Longitudinal/Polar axis


What is the plane of motion?
Transverse plane

Various Planes of Movement
MOVEMENT
Stride Jump
Side Bend
Elbow extension
Nodding head
“yes”
Twirling
Shaking head “no”
AXIS PLANE

Various Planes of Movement
MOVEMENT
Stride Jump
Side Bend
Elbow extension
AXIS
Antero-Posterior
Antero-Posterior
Horizontal
Nodding head “yes” Horizontal
Twirling Longitudinal/Polar
Shaking head “no” Longitudinal/Polar
Frontal
Frontal
Sagittal
PLANE
Sagittal
Transverse
Transverse

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