IB Sports, exercise and health science B.1.1.2 Planes of Movement and Axes of Rotation in Human Motion Key Definitions

An imaginary flat surface used to divide the body for anatomical study and movement analysis. The main anatomical planes are: Sagittal Plane, Frontal (Coronal) Plane and Transverse Plane

An axis of rotation is an imaginary line around which movement occurs.

Circumduction is a circular movement of a limb that occurs when the distal end moves in a circular path while the proximal end remains relatively fixed.

Movement of the foot that pulls the toes upward toward the shin, decreasing the angle between the foot and lower leg.

A movement that increases the angle between two bones at a joint.

A movement that decreases the angle between two bones at a joint.

Opposition is the movement of the thumb toward the fingertips, allowing the hand to grasp, pinch, or manipulate objects.

A plane of movement is an imaginary flat surface that divides the body into sections and along which movements occur.

Movement of the foot that points the toes downward away from the shin, increasing the angle between the foot and lower leg.

Protraction is the movement of a body part forward along a horizontal plane.

Reposition is the movement of the thumb back to its normal position after opposition.

Retraction is the movement of a body part backward along a horizontal plane.