Human Movement

Sciences
Anatomic Locations, Planes of Motion, and
Muscle Actions
 Learning  Objec-ves  

1. Identify muscles as movers.

2. Define anatomic locations.
3. Explain the types of muscle actions.
4. Identify planes of motions and axis of
rotation.
 Reference  Posi-ons  

Basis from which to describe

joint movements

Anatomical Position
Most widely used & accurate for
all aspects of the body
All joints considered to be in
neutral, at 0º, no movement yet
occurred

Fundamental position
Rare, not preferred – arms are at
sides and palms are facing body
 Reclining  Body  Posi-ons  
Two terms describe a reclining body position:

Supine – the body Prone – the body is

is lying face up lying face down
 Direc-onal  Terminology  

▪ Spatial relationships between one

anatomical structure and another

▪ Similar to giving or receiving

directions about geographic
locations
 Cranial   Superior  

Proximal  
Posterior   Anterior  

Medial   lateral  

Caudal   Distal   Proximal  

Inferior   Distal  
 Ac-vity  

Anterior
(ventral)
Nearer to or at the
front of the body

Posterior
(dorsal)
Nearer to or at the
back of the body

Use  these  terms  in  a  

sentence.  
 Alignment  Varia-on  Terminology  

–  Increased  curving  of  the  spine  

outward  or  backward  in  the  
sagiJal  plane  

–  Increased  curving  of  the  spine  

inward  or  forward  in  the  
sagiJal  plane  

–  Lateral  curving  of  the  spine  

 Planes  of  Mo-on  and  Axes  of  Rota-on  

Human movement takes place

through a plane
around/about an axis
perpendicular to the plane
 Planes  of  Mo-on  and  Axes  of  Rota-on  

Plane  
•  The  place  that  human  movement  occurs  
star-ng  from  the  anatomical  posi-on  
•  Imaginary  2-­‐dimensional  surface  through  
which  a  limb  or  body  segment  is  moved  
•  It  is  a  flat  surface  

Mo)on  through  a  plane  revolves  around  an  axis  

•  There  is  a  90°  rela-onship  between  a  plane  
of  mo-on  &  its  axis  
 Planes  of  Mo-on  and  Axes  of  Rota-on  

Axis    
•  A  straight  line  that  an  object  rotates  around    
•  For  movement  to  occur  in  a  plane,  it  must  
turn  or  rotate  about  an  axis  

Joints  move  or  turn  about  an  axis  that  has  a  90°  
rela-onship  to  the  plane  
In  human  body:  
Joints  =  axes  
Bones  =  objects  rota-ng  
 Planes  of  Mo-on  and  Axes  of  Rota-on  

Sagittal plane:
• Bisects body into right and left sides
• Occurs around coronal axis
• Flexion and extension
Frontal plane:
• Bisects body into front and back halves
• Occurs around anterior-posterior axis
• Abduction and adduction
Transverse plane:
• Bisects the body into upper and lower halves
• Occurs around vertical axis
• Internal and external rotation

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Let’s  Sing  Along!  
 Ac-vity  

Using  terms  that  we  have  discussed,  describe  an  exercise  

that  correlates  with  the  FRONTAL  plane.    Make  sure  to  
state  the  axis  of  rota)on  and  the  joint  movement  that  is  
occurring.    

Ex.  Dumbbell  lateral  raises  are  performed  by  grasping  two  

dumbbells  with  a  pronated  grip  and  holding  them  by  your  
sides.    You  will  then  abduct  both  arms  laterally  in  the  
frontal  plane  around  the  anterior-­‐posterior  axis.      
 Ac-vity  

Using  terms  that  we  have  discussed,  describe  an  exercise  

that  correlates  with  the  SAGITTAL  OR  TRANSVERSE  
plane.    Make  sure  to  state  the  axis  of  rota-on  and  the  
joint  movement  that  is  occurring    
 Assignment  2.1    
Labeling  and  Joint  Analysis  
Part  1.  

Part  II:  Lab  

For  this  lab  prac-ce,  consider  the  body  in  the  anatomical  posi-on  and  the  proximal  part  
of  each  joint  fixed.  Examine  the  func-on  of  the  movable  joints  of  the  extremi-es  in  a  
living  subject.  You  can  do  these  movements  yourself  or  ask  a  family  member  or  friend  to  
perform  them.  Complete  the  movements  as  described  and  answer  each  ques-on  related  
to  the  movement.    
 Diagonal  Planes  of  Mo-on  

•  Movements usually do not occur totally in one plane of motion but in

combination of motions in more than one plane.
•  These movements in combined planes described as occurring in diagonal
planes of motion.
•  High & Low Diagonals
•  Diagonal or oblique axis - Runs at a right angle to the diagonal plane
 Axis  of  Rota-on  

Movement   Plane   Axis  

Flexion/Extension   Sagital   Coronal  
Abduc-on/Adduc-on   Frontal   Anterior/Posterior  
Rota-on   Transverse   Ver-cal  (Longitudinal)  

Mo)on  through  a  plane  revolves  around  

an  axis  
•  There  is  a  90°  rela-onship  between  
a  plane  of  mo-on  &  its  axis  

Fundamental  Movements  
 Movements  in  Joints  

•  Terms  are  used  to  describe  actual  change  in  posi-on  of  bones  rela-ve  to  
each  other  
•  Angles  between  bones  change  
•  Movement  occurs  between  ar-cular  surfaces  of  joints  
•  Some  movement  terms  describe  mo-on  
•  at  several  joints  throughout  body  
•  or  are  rela-vely  specific  to  a  joint  or  group  of  joints  
•  Addi-onally,  prefixes  may  be  combined  with  these  terms  to  emphasize  
excessive  mo-on  
•  Hyper  –  (Hyperextension  is  the  most  commonly  used)  
 Movement  Terminology  

▪ Flexion
▪ Extension
▪ Abduction
▪ Adduction
▪ Rotation

Fundamental  Movements  
 Movement  Terminology  
•  Circumduc-on  -­‐  circular  movement,  typically  of  an  appendage  
•  E.g.  joint  specific  mvmts.  
–  Prona-on  -­‐  rota-ng  palm  down  
–  Supina-on  -­‐  rota-ng  palm  upward  
–  Inversion  -­‐  ankle,  foot  turns  inward  
–  Eversion  -­‐  ankle,  foot  turns  outward  
–  Dorsiflexion  -­‐  ankle,  poin-ng  toes  up  toward  shin  
–  Plantarflexion  -­‐  ankle,  poin-ng  toes  downward  to  floor  
–  Horizontal  Flexion/Adduc-on  -­‐  humerus  &  femur,  bring  back  to  body  
–  Horizontal  Extension/Abduc-on  -­‐  humerus  &  femur,  away  from  body  
–  Radial  &  Ulnar  Devia-on  -­‐  adduc-on/abduc-on  of  the  wrist  

Non-­‐Fundamental  
Movements  
Let’s  Sing  Along!  
Major  Joint  Mo-ons  
 Muscles  as  Movers  

Agonist   Antagonist  
Muscles  that  act  as  prime  movers   Muscles  that  perform  the  opposite  
or  the  muscles  most  responsible  for   ac-on  of  the  prime  mover.  
a  par-cular  movement.   In  the  leg  extension,  the  hamstrings  
are  the  antagonists  to  the  
What  is  the  agonist  for  the   quadriceps  (prime  mover)  
following  exercises?  
Bench  press   What  are  the  antagonists  for  the  
Squat   following  exercises?    
Military  press   Bench  press  
Pull-­‐up   Squat  
Military  press  
Pull-­‐up  
 Muscles  as  Movers  

Synergist   Stabilizer  
These  muscles  assist  prime  movers   Support  or  stabilize  the  body  while  
during  movement.   the  prime  movers  and  synergists  
The  hamstrings  act  as  synergists  to   actually  perform  the  movements.    
the  glutes  during  a  squat.  
The  deep  muscles  of  the  back  
What  are  the  synergists  for  the   stabilize  the  low  back,  pelvis  and  
following  exercises?     hips  during  the  squat.  
Bench  press  
Squat  
Military  press  
Pull-­‐up  
Muscles  as  Movers  
 Go  to  Exercise  Prescrip-on’s  
Exercise  and  Muscle  Directory    hJp://
www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html  

Applica-on  Ac-vity:    
Name  the  agonist,  antagonist,  synergists,  and  stabilizers.    
Name  the  plane  of  mo-on  and  axis  of  rota-on.  
 Muscle  Ac-ons  

Muscles produce a variety of actions

known as the muscle action spectrum
to manipulate forces:
•Eccentric:
Lengthening of the muscle
Force reduction
•Isometric:
No appreciable change in the muscle
length
Dynamically stabilize the body
•Concentric:
Shortening of the muscle
Force production
Muscle  Ac-ons  
 Muscle  Ac-ons  

Bench  press  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  Eccentrically?    
Squat  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  Eccentrically?    
Military  press  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  Eccentrically?    
Pull-­‐up  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  Eccentrically?    

Does  the  agonist  change  depending  

on  the  phase  of  the  movement?    

Eccentric  
 Muscle  Ac-ons  

Bench  press  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  concentrically?    
Squat  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  concentrically?    
Military  press  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  concentrically?    
Pull-­‐up  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  concentrically?  

Consider  the  importance  of  tempo!  

Concentric  
 Muscle  Ac-ons  

Bench  press  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  Isometrically?    
Squat  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  isometrically?    
Military  press  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  isometrically?    
Pull-­‐up  
When  is  the  agonist  ac-ng  isometrically?  

Consider  the  importance  of  tempo!  

Isometric  
 Ac-vity  

Applica-on  Ac-vity:    
State  when  the  agonist  is  ac-vated  concentrically,  isometrically,  and  
eccentrically.  
 Ac-vity  

Ankle  joint  (talocrural)  

1.  Move  the  ankle  in  the  sagiJal  plane.    Name  the  movement  in  
which  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  foot  moves  toward  the  
anterior  aspect  of  the  leg:  
2.  Name  the  movement  in  which  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  foot  
moves  away  from  the  anterior  aspect  of  the  leg:  
3.  Name  the  axis  of  movement:  
4.  Movement  at  this  joint  is  limited  to  one  plane    
so  it  is  classified  func-onally  as: