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 […]
Rotation
In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate rotation, which is a body movement term that describes a bone moving around a central axis. Rotation Body Movement Term in Anatomy When I think of the rotation body movement, I like to picture a screw turning to either the right or left, as that is similar […]
Rotation Quiz
Rotation is a body movement term in anatomy. These terms for body movements are important to learn for both anatomy courses and clinical practice. The rotation anatomy quiz below will test you on the key concepts of this movement. Prior to taking this quiz, you might want to review our rotation movement notes, or watch […]
Gliding
In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate another body movement term called gliding. What is Gliding in Anatomy? What is gliding? Gliding occurs when the surfaces of bones slide past one another in a linear direction, but without significant rotary or angular movement. An example of this movement is moving your hand back and […]
Gliding Quiz
In this gliding movement anatomy quiz, you can test your knowledge of this body movement term. Healthcare professionals such as nurses use body movement terms to assess patients, document, and communicate with other healthcare professionals. Prior to taking this quiz, you might want to review our gliding anatomy notes, or watch our quick gliding video […]
Circumduction
In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate circumduction, which is an angular movement that blends the motions of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction to create a circular or conical motion of the attached structure. The word circumduction starts with the same letters as the word “circle,” so that will tip you off that this […]
Circumduction Quiz
In this circumduction quiz for anatomy, you can test your knowledge of this body movement term. Nurses and other healthcare professionals refer to circumduction when documenting or performing healthcare assessments for things like joint mobility. Prior to taking this quiz, you might want to review our circumduction notes or watch our circumduction video demonstration. (NOTE: […]
Abduction and Adduction
In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstration abduction and adduction, which are angular body movement terms that have a structure moving either toward or away from a midline reference point on the body. Unlike flexion and extension movements, which mostly take place within the sagittal plane, you’ll notice that abduction and adduction motions mostly […]
Abduction and Adduction Anatomy Quiz
In this abduction and adduction anatomy quiz, you can test your knowledge of these body movement terms that occur at the synovial joints. Healthcare professionals such as nurses use body movement terms to assess patients, document, and communicate with other healthcare professionals. Prior to taking this quiz, you might want to review our abduction and […]
Three Types of Muscle Tissue Quiz
Quiz yourself on the three types of muscle tissue. In the human body, there are three types of muscle tissue: skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle tissue. Each type of muscle tissue has different characteristics that you’ll need to know for your anatomy exams. Before taking the quiz below, you might want to review […]
Three Types of Muscle Tissue
There are 3 types of muscle tissue in the human body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle. In this video and article compilation, I’m going to discuss all three types of muscle tissue. Skeletal Muscle Tissue Skeletal muscles most commonly attach to bones, and they help you move your body. Unlike the other two types of […]
Flexion and Extension
In this anatomy lesion, I’m going to demonstrate flexion and extension, which are body movement terms that either decrease or increase the angle between two structures or joints, bringing them closer together or moving them further apart. Flexion and extension are considered angular movements. I find that it’s really helpful for me to think in […]
Flexion and Extension Anatomy Quiz
In this anatomy quiz, you can test your knowledge of flexion and extension, which are special body movement terms used in anatomy. Nurses and other healthcare professionals use these terms when assessing patients or documenting. Before taking this quiz on flexion and extension, you might want to review our flexion and extension anatomy notes. In […]
Elevation and Depression Anatomy
In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate elevation and depression, which are special body movement terms that describe motion in a superior (up) or inferior (down) direction. Elevation in Anatomy Elevation refers to movement of a body part in a superior direction, or moving upward. When you walk into a hotel lobby, you have […]
Protrusion, Retrusion, and Excursion Anatomy
In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate protrusion, retrusion, and excursion, which are special body movement terms in anatomy that refer to forward (anterior), backward (posterior), or side to side movements. Protrusion in Anatomy Protrusion refers to the movement of a structure in an anterior (forward) direction. In fact, the word protrude means “projecting […]
Elevation and Depression Anatomy Quiz
In this anatomy quiz, you can test your knowledge of elevation and depression, which are special body movement terms used in anatomy. Nurses and other healthcare professionals use these terms when assessing patients or documenting. Before taking this quiz, you might want to review our elevation and depression anatomy notes. In addition, you might want […]
Protrusion, Retrusion. And Excursion Anatomy Quiz
In this anatomy quiz, you can test your knowledge of protrusion, retrusion, and excursion, which are special body movement terms used in anatomy. Nurses and other healthcare professionals use these terms when assessing patients or documenting. Before taking this quiz on protrusion, retrusion, and excrusion, you might want to review our anatomy notes. In addition, […]
Protraction vs Retraction
In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate protraction and retraction, which are special body movements in anatomy that most commonly involve the scapulae (shoulder blades). Protraction Movement Protraction moves the scapula forward (anteriorly) and toward the side of the body (laterally) in an anterolateral direction. Retraction Movement Retraction is the opposite movement. It causes […]
Protraction and Retraction Anatomy Quiz
Protraction and retraction are special body movements that most students will learn in their anatomy and physiology courses. Healthcare professionals reference these movements during documentation and assessments. The quiz below will test your knowledge on these movements. Before taking the protraction vs retraction quiz below, you might want to review our anatomy notes. In addition, […]
Inversion and Eversion
In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate inversion and eversion, which are special movements that cause the foot to move relative to the body’s midline. Inversion of the Foot During inversion, the bottom of the foot (sole) turns so that it faces toward the body’s midline, in a medial orientation. Inversion starts with the […]
Inversion vs Eversion Anatomy Quiz
Inversion and eversion refer to special movements of the foot, which you’ll typically learn in anatomy courses. These movement terms are used by healthcare professionals during documentation and health assessments. Before taking the inversion vs eversion quiz below, you might want to review our anatomy notes. In addition, you might want to view our inversion vs […]
Dorsiflexion and Plantarflexion
In this continued series on body movements of anatomy, I’m going to demonstrate dorsiflexion and plantarflexion (or plantar flexion), which are special movements involving the foot and ankle joint. Dorsiflexion vs Plantarflexion To help you understand this special movement, let’s break down the words. Dorsal Side of the Foot (Dorsum) Dorsal refers to the back […]
Dorsiflexion and Plantarflexion Anatomy Quiz
Dorsiflexion and plantarflexion are special movements that the foot can perform at the ankle joint. These special body movements are important to know in the anatomical terms of motion, as they can help nurses and other health professionals assess patients. Before taking this dorsiflexion and plantarflexion quiz, you might want to review our anatomy notes, […]
Opposition and Reposition of the Thumb
In this article and video, I’m going to demonstrate opposition and reposition, which are special movements involving the thumb. The thumb, also known as the pollex or digit one, articulates (forms a joint) with the trapezium bone of the wrist (carpus) via a saddle joint, which is a type of synovial joint featuring interlocking convex […]
Opposition and Reposition Quiz: Anatomy
Opposition and Reposition of the Thumb Quiz Opposition and reposition are special movements that the thumb can perform. These special movements are important to learn for both anatomy courses and clinical practice. The opposition and reposition anatomy quiz below will test you on the key concepts of this special movement. Prior to taking this quiz, […]
Supination and Pronation
In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate supination and pronation, which are special movements involving rotation of the forearm. These body movements are used by healthcare professionals to describe body movements, document, and assess patients. Supination of Forearm and Hand During supination, the distal end of the radius bone rotates over the ulna bone […]
Supination and Pronation Anatomy Quiz
Supination and pronation are special movements involving the forearm. These body movements are important to learn in anatomy class, as they are referenced in various medical professions to describe, assess, or document patient information. Before taking this supination vs pronation quiz, you might want to review our supination and pronation anatomy notes, or watch the […]
Smooth Muscle Tissue
Smooth muscle tissue anatomy review: In my previous lectures, I’ve discussed skeletal muscle tissue and cardiac muscle tissue. In this review, I’m going to cover the third and final type of muscle tissue: smooth muscle tissue. Smooth muscle is quite a bit different from the other two types of muscle tissue, but it also shares […]
Smooth Muscle Quiz Anatomy
This smooth muscle quiz will help you practice basic facts and concepts about this type of muscle tissue. Smooth muscle tissue is one of the three types of muscle tissue found in the human body. The other two types of muscle tissue are skeletal and cardiac muscle tissue. Before taking the quiz below, you might […]
Cardiac Muscle Tissue
In my last anatomy lesson, I discussed skeletal muscle tissue, which is one of the three types of muscle tissue found in the human body, along with cardiac and smooth muscle tissue. In this article and video, I’m going to discuss cardiac muscle tissue. Of the three types of muscle tissue, cardiac muscle tissue is […]