Directional Terms
This plane divides the body into superior and inferior parts and is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
What is the transverse plane?
This type of bone is characterized by small, rounded shapes and functions as shock absorbers in the wrist and foot.
What are short bones?
This type of synovial joint permits motion in three planes and includes the shoulder and hip.
What is a ball-and-socket joint?
Flexion and extension occur in this plane of motion.
What is the sagittal plane?
This property describes a muscle's ability to return to its resting length after being stretched.
What is elasticity?
This term describes a structure farther from the attachment point of a limb to the trunk.
What is distal?
This group of bones protects vital organs and contains 80 bones.
What is the axial skeleton?
These dense, fibrous connective tissue structures provide stability and are found in cranial sutures.
What are synarthrodial joints?
This tool measures joint range of motion by aligning its center with the joint's axis.
What is a goniometer?
This type of contraction occurs when the muscle develops tension without changing length.
What is isometric contraction?
In this position, the body lies face upward.
What is supine?
A large, smooth, rounded articular process found at the proximal end of a long bone.
What is a head?
This type of joint motion occurs in uniaxial joints such as hinge and pivot joints.
What is rotation or flexion/extension?
This movement involves turning a body part toward the midline.
What is medial (internal) rotation?
This principle states that either all muscle fibers in a motor unit contract maximally, or none at all.
What is the all-or-none principle?
Motion along the sagittal plane occurs around this axis.
What is the mediolateral axis?
These small, flat, seed-shaped bones increase leverage and are commonly found in this location.
What are tendons?
This type of cartilaginous joint connects the ribs to the sternum via hyaline cartilage.
What is synchondrosis?
This circular motion is a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.
What is circumduction?
This reflex activates motor units during the rapid eccentric phase to enhance concentric contraction.
What is the stretch reflex?
This prefix means "toward the middle."
What is "medial-"?
This large, rough projection is exclusive to the femur.
What is the greater trochanter?
This fibrocartilage structure enhances joint congruency and stability by deepening the socket.
What is the labrum?
This motion involves dorsiflexion and eversion, often referred to as "toe-out."
What is foot pronation?
Force generation during this type of muscle contraction increases at higher lengthening speeds.
What is eccentric contraction?