Muscle movements, types, and names

Types of body movements

• Every one of our our 600+ skeletal muscles is attached to bone or to other connective tissue structures at no less than two points

• These points are called the origin and the insertion

Origin vs. Insertion• The origin of a muscle is the site where it is attached to immovable or less movable bone

• The insertion of a muscle is the site where it is attached to the movable bone and therefore, when the muscle contracts, the insertion moves toward the origin.

Types of body movements

• There are 12 body movements that are the most common.

• All of these movements occur because our muscles are working in tandem with our skeletal system.

Flexion

• Flexion is a movement generally in the sagittal plane, that decreases the angle of the joint and brings 2 bones closer together

• Flexion is typical of hinge joints but can also happen at ball and socket joints

Extension• Extension is the opposite of flexion

• Therefore, it is a movement that increases the angle or the distance between two bones

• If the angle created by extension is greater than 180 degrees it is called hyperextension.

Abduction

• Abduction is moving a limb away from the midline of the body

• This movement also refers to the spreading of fingers or toes

Adduction

• Adduction is the opposite of abduction so it is the movement of a limb toward the body’s midline.

Rotation

• Rotation is movement of a bone around its longitudinal axis.

• Rotation is a common movement of ball and socket joints and describes the movement of the C1 and C2 vertebrae ( as in shaking your head “no”)

Circumduction• Circumduction is a combination of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction that is common in ball and socket joints such as the shoulder

• This can be done when the proximal end of the limb is stationary and its distal end moves in a circle.

Pronation

• Pronation is the moving of the palm of the hand from anterior to a posterior position

• This action moves the distal end of the radius across the ulna

Supination

• Supination is moving the palm from a posterior position to an anterior position

• It is the opposite of pronation

Inversion and Eversion

• Inversion is the the turning of the sole of the foot so that it faces medially

• Eversion is the turning of the sole of the foot laterally

Dorsiflexion and Plantar Flexion

• Dorsiflexion is the movement at the ankle that moves the instep of the foot up and dorsally toward the shin

• Plantar flexion straightens the ankle joint causing the toes to point downards