skeletal sYstem 51
rotation—Movement around the axis of the limb; in the hips, shoulders, and forelegs,
this is further described as internal (or medial) and external (or lateral) rotation. Rota-
tion in the hand, foot, and forearm has special names (see the sections that follow).
abduction—Movement of the limb away from the torso or the midline of the body;
in the hand, foot, and scapula, this term describes a more specific action (see the
sections that follow).
adduction—Movement of the limb toward the torso or the midline of the body; in
the hand, foot, and scapula this term describes a more specific action (see sections
that follow).
circumduction—Movement that travels through space around the axis of the limb,
tracing a cone shape. This is not the same as rotation.actions in specific limbs
Some parts of the limbs can perform movements that are not described by the general
terms listed above. These joint actions have terms that are used for specific body parts
(such as pronation and supination, which only occur in the feet and forearms, or radial
deviation, which only occurs in the wrists). In some body parts a general joint action will
refer to a different movement than in the rest of the limb. (In the hands, abduction refers
to movement away from the middle finger rather than away from the midline of the body.)
Hand
rotation—Rotation around the long axis of the hand is called eversion when it lifts
the outer edge of the hand and inversion when it lifts the inner edge of the hand.
abduction—Movement of the fingers away from the third finger.
adduction—Movement of the fingers toward the third finger.
radial deviation—Movement of the fingers toward the radial (thumb) side of the hand.
ulnar deviation—Movement of the fingers toward the ulnar (pinkie) side of the hand.
opposition—Movement of the thumb and the little finger toward each other.Wrist
dorsiflexion—Movement when the angle between the back of the hand (the dorsal
surface) and the forearm decreases. (From an embryological perspective, this is
extension of the wrist.)
palmar flexion—Movement when the angle between the palm of the hand (the
palmar surface) and the forearm decreases. (From an embryological perspective, this
is flexion of the wrist.)
radial deviation or abduction—Movement of the hand toward the radial side of the
forearm (thumb side).
ulnar deviation or adduction—Movement of the hand toward the ulnar side of the
forearm (pinkie side).