In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover all of the major body movement terms for anatomy (also called the planes of motion) that can occur at the synovial joints. You’ll come across these in your anatomy or kinesiology courses, and if you pursue a career in healthcare, you’ll use these terms during documentation or […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

There are 3 types of muscle tissue in the human body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle. In this video and article, I’m going to discuss skeletal 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 muscle tissue, skeletal muscles […]

This muscle song will help you learn the major muscles of the human body.  Most anatomy courses will require that you at least know the name and location of the major muscles, though some anatomy courses will also require you to know the function (or action), the insertion and origin, and so on. It can […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the major ligaments of the vertebral column. Let’s recap for a moment. What are ligaments? Ligaments are those strong bands of fibrous connective tissue that primarily connect bones together, adding both strength and stability to them. Less commonly, they also connect organs or cartilage. Tendons, on the […]

The vertebral column is part of the axial skeleton, and it is made of 33 individual bones during youth, which anatomists classify as irregular bones. Approximately nine of the bones at the terminal end of the spine later fuse in adulthood to form two larger bones: the sacrum and the coccyx. After the bones of […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the sacrum, a triangular bone located near the inferior portion of the vertebral column. Sacrum Etymology The word “sacrum” sounds a lot like the word “sacred,” and there’s a reason for that. “Sacrum” comes from an ancient Greek word that means “sacred bone” (hieron osteon), and they […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the coccyx bone, also called the tailbone. Anatomists classify the coccyx bone as an irregular bone, and it makes up the inferior portion of the vertebral column, which is part of the axial skeleton. Your tailbone does serve a purpose: It allows for the attachment of several […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the rib bones, also called costae in Latin. The ribs help protect vital organs  in the thorax such as the heart and lungs, and they assist with breathing. Don’t be fooled their long, curved shape! Rib bones are not classified as long bones. Instead, anatomists classify the […]

Sternum Anatomy: Manubrium, Body (Gladiolus), and Xiphoid Process In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the sternum bone, also called the breastbone. I like to call this the “necktie bone” because it is shaped just like a necktie, and it’s also located in the center of the chest.  In fact, the word sternum comes […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to highlight the major differences between the male pelvis and the female pelvis.  If you were to walk into a crime scene containing skeletal remains, one of the quickest ways to determine the sex of the body would be to examine the pelvis. Male vs Female Pelvis Let’s take […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the pelvic girdle, which consists of the two hip bones. The hip bones are referred to by different names, such as os coxae or coxal bones, innominate bones, or the pelvic bones. The pelvic girdle is part of the appendicular skeleton, and it not only protects the […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the patella bone, also known as the kneecap. The patella bone is part of the appendicular skeleton, and it gets its name from a Latin word that means “shallow pan or dish.” Anatomists classify it as a sesamoid bone, which is often considered a subcategory of short […]

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the anatomy of the tibia and fibula bones of the anatomical leg, which is the section between the knee and ankle. These two leg bones are part of the appendicular skeleton, and anatomists classify them as long bones. Tibia and Fibula Memory Trick If you get these […]