1. KKU_Biomech_M1_L4
Musculoskeletal system
Lesson (4)
Dr / Shimaa Essa
Lecturer of physical therapy , faculty of community,
King Khalid university

2. Upon successful completion of this lesson you
would be able to:
1- Identify dimensions of movement.
2- Comprehend Directional Terms Used in
Describing Anatomy.
3- Identify cardinal and parallel planes and
axes where body movements take place.
4- Distinguish between Planes and axes.

3. Introduction
The plane : is the surface on which the
movement occurs or takes place.
The axis : is the line around which the
movement takes place.
Axis is the singular and axes are the plural noun.
Any movement occurs in a plane around an axis.
Axis of the same plane makes an angle
perpendicular to that plane.

4. Dimensions of Movement
• 0 Dimension - point.
• 1 Dimension - line.
• 2 Dimensions - plane.
• 3 Dimensions - cube, sphere.
• 4 Dimensions - 3 Dimensions + time.
Movement occurs in all 4 dimensions (time
and space).

5. Directional Terms Used in
Describing Anatomy
• SUPERIOR – Directed upwards or towards
the head
• INFERIOR – Directed downwards or
towards the feet
• ANTERIOR – Directed towards the front of
the body
• POSTERIOR – Directed towards the back
of the body

6. Directional Terms Used in
Describing Anatomy
• MEDIAL – Nearer the midline of the body
• LATERAL – Farther from the midline of the body
• PROXIMAL – Nearer to the attachment of a limb
to the trunk
• DISTAL – Farther from the attachment of the
limb to the trunk
• SUPERFICIAL – Located on or near the surface
of the body
• DEEP – Away from the surface of the body

9. The Anatomical Position
The
position of reference
for all
movements.
Also
called the standing
supine position

10. 1- Cardinal plane 3 imaginary perpendicular
reference planes that divide the body in half by mass
And represent where the axial skeleton movements
take place
2- Parallel Plane.
Is an imaginary surface where the movement of
appendicular skeleton take place
3- Diagonal plane.
Is a plane other than cardinal or parallel planes, Where
movement occurs in a diagonal pattern

11. 1. Sagittal – Divides the
body into left and right
halves.
2. Frontal – Divides the
body into front and back
halves.
3. Transverse – Divides the
body into top and
bottom halves.

12. Sagittal Plane Movements
(Forward & Backward Movements)
• Whole Body – Forward and backward
movement such as front or back flips
• Segmental
– Flexion
– Extension
– Hyperextension
– Dorsiflexion
Ankle
– Plantar flexion

13. Back flips and
front flips are
whole body
sagittal plane
movements.

14. For a cyclist,
the leg
movements
occur in the
sagittal
plane.

15. Forward and
backward
movements at
specific joints such as
the shoulder and
ankle are sagittal
plane movements.

16. Frontal Plane Movements
(Sideward & Vertical Movements)
• Whole Body – Sideward movement as seen
in sideward cartwheels

17. Frontal Plane Movements
(Sideward & Vertical Movements)
• Segmental
– Abduction
– Adduction
– Lateral flexion
– Elevation and depression of the shoulder girdle
(or scapula)
– Upward and downward rotation of the
shoulder girdle (or scapula)
– Radial deviation
– Ulnar deviation
Wrist

18. Frontal Plane Movements
Hip abduction and
adduction.
Ulnar and radial
Deviation.

19. Frontal Plane Movements
Elevation and depression of the
shoulder girdle.

20. Frontal Plane Movements
Lateral flexion of the trunk.

21. Transverse Plane Movements
(Horizontal Movement)
• Whole Body
Horizontal
movement or
rotation as in a
skater’s or dancer's
pirouette.

22. Transverse Plane Movements
Transverse Plane Movements
(Rotation Around a Vertical Axis)
• Segmental
– Medial (inward) rotation
– Lateral (outward) rotation
– Left / right rotation of the trunk, neck, or head
– Supination - forearm
– Pronation – forearm
– Horizontal abduction (transverse flexion)
– Horizontal adduction (transverse extension)

23. Transverse Plane Movements
Horizontal adduction
and abduction are
segmental transverse
plane movements.

24. Diagonal plane movements
Diagonal plane movements
– Pronation of subtalar joint – abduction + eversion
– Supination of subtalar joint – adduction + inversion

25. Anatomical Reference Axes
(Axes is plural for axis)
• An imaginary axis of rotation that passes
through a joint to which it is attached
– Frontal or (mediolateral) axis- X-Axis
– Sagittal or (anterioposterior) axis- Z-Axis
– Longitudinal axis- Y-Axis
Movement, both whole body and segmental,
takes place in the cardinal planes and around
the cardinal axes.

26. o The ellipse represents the
transverse plane and the
black line represents the Y-
axis.
Transverse Plane
o The Y-axis is perpendicular to
the transverse plane.
Therefore a point which
rotates around the Y-axis will
move in the transverse plane.
o Essentially, movement in a
given plane takes place
Y-axis
around the axis that is
perpendicular to that plane.

27. X-Axis
• Passes from side to side.
• Rotation in the sagittal plane takes place
around the x-axis.

28. Y-Axis
• Passes from top to bottom.
• Rotation in the transverse plane takes
place around the y-axis.

29. Z-Axis
• Passes from front to back.
• Rotation in the frontal plane takes place
around the z-axis.

30. Summary of
Planes & Axes

31. The cardinal axes lie at the Y Axis
intersection of the cardinal
planes.
Center of Gravity
X Axis
Z Axis
The cardinal planes and
axes all intersect at the
center of gravity (COG).