skeletal sYstem 53
upward or lateral rotation—Rotation of the scapula in the vertical plane in such a way
that the glenoid fossa faces upward and the inferior angle moves laterally to the side.
downward or medial rotation—Rotation of the scapula in the vertical plane in such
a way that the glenoid fossa faces downward and the inferior angle moves medially
toward the spine.
abduction or protraction—Movement in the horizontal plane away from the spine,
which ends up wrapping the scapula toward the front of the body.
adduction or retraction—Movement in the horizontal plane toward the spine, which
ends up drawing the scapulae toward each other in the back.Foot
rotation—Rotation around the long axis of the foot is called eversion when it lifts the
outer edge of the foot and inversion when it lifts the inner edge of the foot.
abduction—Movement of the forefoot toward the lateral edge (little toe side) of the
foot without moving the heel; the movement of the toes away from the second toe.
adduction—Movement of the forefoot toward the medial edge (big toe side) of the
foot without moving the heel; the movement of the toes toward the second toe.
pronation and supination—In the feet, pronation is sometimes considered the same
thing as eversion, and is sometimes a combination of eversion and abduction. And
in the feet, supination is sometimes used interchangeably with inversion, and is
sometimes a combination of inversion and adduction.ankle
plantar flexion—Movement when the angle between the sole of the foot (the plantar
surface) and the back of the foreleg decreases; pointing the foot. (From an embryo-
logical perspective, this is ankle flexion.)
dorsiflexion—Movement when the angle between the top of the foot (the dorsal
surface) and the foreleg decreases. (From an embryological perspective, this is ankle
extension.)Pelvis
nutation—Movement of the sacrum separately from the pelvic bones in such a way
that the top of the sacrum tips forward, or nods, and the bottom of the sacrum
(near the coccyx) tips back. This is movement at the sacroiliac (SI) joint, between the
sacrum and pelvic or innominate bone, not movement of the full pelvis (which would
be an anterior or posterior tilt of the pelvis caused by joint action at the hip joints or
lumbar spine).
counternutation—Movement of the sacrum in such a way that the top of the sacrum
tips backward and the bottom of the sacrum (near the coccyx) tips forward. This is
movement at the SI joint, between the sacrum and innominate bone, not movement
of the full pelvis (which would be an anterior or posterior tilt of the pelvis caused by
joint action at the hip joints or lumbar spine).