Test your knowledge of anatomy body movement terms, also called the body planes of motion, which occur at the synovial joints. This quiz covers important terms such as flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, circumduction, protraction, retraction, excursion, protrusion, retrusion, and more.
Nurses and other healthcare professionals use these terms when assessing patients or when documenting. You’ll also encounter these body movement terms in kinesiology courses, as well as anatomy and other health science courses.
Before taking this comprehensive body movement term quiz, you might want to review our body movement terms notes, or watch the comprehensive body movement terms video.
Body Planes of Motion Anatomy Quiz
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Body Movement Terms Comprehensive Anatomy Quiz
1. Which statement best describes the gliding movement in anatomy?
a. A decrease in the angle between two structures
b. An increase in the angle between two structures
c. The movement created when the surfaces of bones slide over one another in a linear direction
d. A circular movement at the distal end of a structure
The answer is c. Gliding is the movement of bones moving past each other in a linear direction.
2. Gliding occurs at what type of joint?
a. Pivot joint
b. Ball-and-socket joint
c. Saddle joint
d. Plane joint
The answer is d, plane joint, also called a planar joint. This type of joint allows bones to glide over one another.
3. Abduction does which of the following?
a. It moves the structure toward the body’s midline reference point
b. It moves the structure in a circular motion
c. It moves the structure away from the body’s midline reference point
d. It rotates the structure around its long axis
The answer is c, abduction moves the structure away from the body’s midline reference point. Remember, when you are abducted, you are being taken away.
4. Adduction describes which of the following?
a. It moves the structure toward the body’s midline reference point
b. It moves the structure in a circular motion
c. It moves the structure away from the body’s midline reference point
d. It rotates the structure around its long axis
The answer is a, adduction moves the structure toward the body’s midline reference point. Remember, it “ADDs” it back to toward the midline.
5. Raising the arms to the side of the body while performing dumbbell lateral raises is an example of what motion?
a. Circumduction
b. Flexion
c. Abduction
d. Adduction
The answer is c, abduction. Raising your arms at the side of the body is an example of abduction, and lowering them down is an example of adduction.
6. Circumduction is classified as which type of body movement?
a. Rotational
b. Angular
c. Special
d. Gliding
The answer is b, angular. Circumduction is classified as an angular movement, as it combines flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction angular movements.
7. Circumduction is performed in the following sequence: flexion, abduction, extension, adduction, or the reverse of the same sequence.
a. True
b. False
The answer is a, true. While you could start with either flexion or adduction, you must follow a similar order to create the circular motion.
8. Pronation leaves the palms facing forward in the anatomical position.
a. True
b. False
The answer is b, false. Supination leaves the palms facing forward in the anatomical position.
9. During supination, the forearm rotates in which direction?
a. Medially
b. Laterally
c. None of the above
The answer is b, laterally. During supination, the forearm rotates in a lateral direction, which is away from the body’s midline.
10. What is opposition of the thumb?
a. Moving the thumb so that its tip contacts the tip of another finger on the same hand.
b. Moving the thumb away from another finger on the same hand.
c. Keeping the thumb still.
d. Rotating the thumb in a continual clockwise or counterclockwise rotation.
The answer is a. During opposition, the tip of the thumb meets (opposes) the tip of another finger on the same hand.
11. What is reposition?
a. A special movement that causes the thumb to rotate in a circular fashion
b. A special movement that allows the thumb to touch the finger tips
c. A special movement that allows the thumb and finger to return to their normal position
d. A special movement that causes the wrist to flex
The answer is c. Reposition is a special movement that allows the thumb and finger to return to their normal position.
12. What is medial rotation?
a. Rotation of a structure toward the body’s midline
b. Rotation of a structure away from the body’s midline
c. Rotation of a structure in an upward direction
d. Rotation of a structure in a downward direction
The answer is a. Medial rotation has the anterior surface of a structure rotating toward the body’s midline.
13. Lateral rotation is also called external rotation.
a. True
b. False
The answer is a, true. Lateral rotation is also called external rotation. Medial rotation is also called internal rotation.
14. What happens during dorsiflexion?
a. The bottom of the foot moves toward the calf, decreasing the angle between those two surfaces, which leaves the toes pointing away from the body
b. The top of the foot moves toward the shin, decreasing the angle between those two surfaces, leaving the toes pointing toward the head
c. The foot twists to the left
d. The foot twists to the right
The answer is b, the upper surface of the foot moves toward the shin, decreasing the angle, leaving the toes pointing toward the head. Think about walking on your heels.
15. What happens during plantarflexion?
a. The bottom of the foot moves toward the calf, decreasing the angle between those two surfaces, which leaves the toes pointing away from the body
b. The top of the foot moves toward the shin, decreasing the angle between those two surfaces, leaving the toes pointing toward the head
c. The foot twists to the left
d. The foot twists to the right
The answer is a, the sole of the foot moves toward the calf, decreasing the angle between those two surfaces, which leaves the toes pointing away from the body. Think calf raises or tip toe walking.
16. What is eversion?
a. Movement of the foot so that the sole points toward the body’s midline (medially)
b. Movement of the foot so that the sole points away from the body’s midline (laterally)
c. Movement of the foot that brings the dorsal side nearer to the shin
d. Movement of the foot that brings the plantar side nearer to the calf
The answer is b, eversion moves the sole of the foot so that it points away from the body’s midline in a lateral direction.
17. What is inversion?
a. Movement of the foot so that the sole points toward the body’s midline (medially)
b. Movement of the foot so that the sole points away from the body’s midline (laterally)
c. Movement of the foot that brings the dorsal side nearer to the shin
d. Movement of the foot that brings the plantar side nearer to the calf
The answer is a, movement of the foot so that the sole points toward the body’s midline. Remember, inversion points the soles “in.”
18. Which motion best describes retraction?
a. The scapulae move in a posterior/medial direction (posteromedial)
b. The scapulae move in an anterior/lateral direction (anterolateral)
c. The scapulae only move anteriorly
d. The scapulae only move posteriorly
The answer is a, the scapulae move back (posteriorly) and toward the midline (medially) during retraction (posteromedial). If you try to touch the elbows behind the back, your shoulder blades retract.
19. Which motion best describes protraction?
a. The scapulae move in a posterior/medial direction (posteromedial)
b. The scapulae move in an anterior/lateral direction (anterolateral)
c. The scapulae only move anteriorly
d. The scapulae only move posteriorly
The answer is b, the scapulae move in an anterior/lateral direction (anterolateral). This motion can be achieved by punching or touching the elbows together in the front.
20. What is elevation in anatomy?
a. A special body movement term that describes movement of a structure in an inferior direction
b. A special body movement term that describes movement of a structure in a superior direction
c. A special body movement term that describes lateral movement
d. A special body movement term that describes medial movement
The answer is b. Elevation has a body structure moving in a superior, or upward, direction. Remember, you get on the elevator to go up.
21. What is depression in anatomy?
a. A special body movement term that describes movement of a structure in an inferior direction
b. A special body movement term that describes movement of a structure in a superior direction
c. A special body movement term that describes lateral movement
d. A special body movement term that describes medial movement
The answer is a. Depression is a special body movement term that describes the movement of a body part in a downward direction.
22. Which term describes the side-to-side movement of the mandible?
a. Protrusion
b. Retrusion
c. Excursion
d. Protraction
The answer is c, excursion. Later excursion is the movement to the left or right side of the mandible, whereas medial excursion is the movement of the mandible toward the body’s midline.
23. Which term describes the forward (anterior) movement of a structure?
a. Protrusion
b. Retrusion
c. Excursion
d. Retraction
The answer is a. Protrusion refers to the movement of a structure in a forward direction. This most commonly involves the tongue, mandible, and lips.
24. Which term describes the backward (posterior) movement of a structure?
a. Protrusion
b. Retrusion
c. Excursion
d. Protraction
The answer is b, retrusion. Retrusion refers to the posterior movement of a structure, typically the lips, mandible (lower jaw), or tongue.
25. Which statement describes flexion?
a. Movement that increases the angle between two structures or joints, causing the structures to straighten or move apart
b. Movement that decreases the angle between two structures or joints, causing the structures to bend or move closer together
c. Flexing a muscle
d. Relaxing a muscle
The answer is b. Flexion is a body movement term that decreases the angle between two structures or joints, resulting in the structures bending or moving closer together.
26. Which statement describes extension?
a. Movement that increases the angle between two structures or joints, causing the structures to straighten or move apart
b. Movement that decreases the angle between two structures or joints, causing the structures to bend or move closer together
c. Flexing a muscle
d. Relaxing a muscle
The answer is a. Extension is a body movement term that describes a decrease in the angle between two structures or joints, causing them to move apart or straighten.
27. Flexion for the thumb (pollex) involves what movement?
a. Movement of the thumb toward the pinky within the frontal plane
b. Movement of the thumb toward the palm in within the sagittal plane
c. None of the above
d. Both a and b
The answer is a. Flexion for the thumb has it moving toward the pinky, and the movement takes place within the frontal plane, not the sagittal plane like most other movements of flexion and extension.
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