Scientific Terminology Definitions

1. Anatomical Reference Position- Erect, standing position with all body parts, including the palms of the hands, facing forward: considered the starting position for body segment movements
2. Sagittal Plane-  Plane in which forward and backward movements of the body and body segments occur.
3. Flexion- position made possible by the joint angle decreasing.
4. Adduction- To move a body segment towards the midline of the body.
5. Balance- Ability to control equilibrium.
6. Rotate- Circular movement of an object around a point of rotation.
7. Angle of attack- Angle between the longitudinal axis of a body and the direction of the fluid flow.
8. Range of motion- angle through which a joint moves from anatomical position to the extreme limit of segment motion in particular direction
9. Quadriceps- the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius
10. Extension- position made possible by the joint angle increasing
11. Pivot- point of rotation
12. Transverse Plane- plane in which horizontal body and body segment movements occur when the body is in  an erect standing position.
13. Hyperextend- Movement of a joint that results in increased angle between two bones.
14. Impact- Collision characterized by the exchange of a large force during a small time interval.
15. Force- Push or pull; the product of mass and acceleration
16. General Motion- motion involving translation and rotation simultaneously.
17. Glenohumeral Joint- ball and socket joint in which the head of the humerus articulates with the glenoid fossa of the scapula
18. Humeroulnar joint- Hinge joint in which the humeral trochlea articulates with the trochlear fossa of the ulna
19. Fast twitch fiber- a fiber that reaches peak tension relatively quickly.
20. Curvilinear- along a curved line.