PEP 294: Lecture Notes
II. Kinematic Concepts
Basic Anatomy
1. Anatomical Reference Position
- erect standing position
- feet slightly separated
- arms hanging relaxed at the sides
- palms of hands facing forward
2. Directional Terms
- Superior / inferior: closer/farther to/from the head = cranial/caudal- Anterior / posterior: toward the front/back of the body = ventral/dorsal
- Medial / laterial: toward/away from the midline of the body
- Proximal / distal: closer/away to/from the trunk
- Superficial / deep: inside the body and toward/away from the body surface
3. Anatomical Planes
- Sagittal plane: splits body vertically into left and right sections = anteroposterior plane- Frontal plane: splits body vertically into front & back sections = coronal plane
- Transverse plane: splits body into top & bottom sections
4. Anatomical Axes
- Transverse axis (mediolateral axis): perpendicular to the sagittal plane- Anteroposterior axis: perpendicular to the frontal plane
- Longitudinal axis: perpendicular to the transverse plane
Joint Motions
1. Sagittal Plane Motion
 | Flexion/extension: |
- anteriorly directed motion of head, trunk, upperarm, forearm & thigh
- posteriorly directed motion of shank
- decrease of joint angle
- palmar / plantar / dorsi
| Hyperextension: extension beyond the reference position |
2. Frontal Plane Motion
- Abduction / adduction: moves away from/closer to body midline- Lateral flexion: trunk
- Elevation / depression: scapula (shoulder girdle)
- Radial / ulnar deviation: hand
- Inversion / eversion: inward/outward rotation of the sole of the foot
3. Transverse Plane Motion
- Medial/lateral rotation: rotation toward/away from midline on the body- Left/right rotation: head, neck & trunk
- Pronation/supination: forearm
- Horizontal adduction/abduction: arm
4. Complex Joint Motions
| Complex joint motion: |
- no particular anatomical axis or plane
- multiple axes or planes are involved
| Circumduction: |
- combination of flexion/extension, abduction/adduction & rotation resulting conical motion
| Foot pronation/supination: |
- at subtalar joint, combination of inversion, adduction & plantar flexion
Motion of Objects
1. Forms of Motion
| Linear motion (Translation): all points on the body show the same trajectory |
- rectilinear: straight path
- curvilinear: curved path
| Angular motion (Rotation): rotation along an axis of rotation |
| General motion: |
- combination of linear motion + angular motion
| Whole body motion: |
- mixture of linear, angular & general motions of the segments
2. Analysis of Motion
| Mechanical System: - the system to be analyzed - chosen by the analyst depending on the focus of interest - Example: whole body, right arm, ball, etc |
| External vs. internal: |
- internal: anything originates from inside the mechanical system
- external: anything originates from outside the mechanical system
- ex: internal/external forces
- external forces: important in explaining motions