ORIGIN attachment point that is most proximal; immovable or less movable bone

INSERTION attachment point to the movable bone; insertion moves toward the origin.

ORIGIN/INSERTION

MUSCLE MOVEMENTS

FLEXION (flex.) movement that decreases the angle of a joint; to bend

EXTENSION (ext.) Movement that increases the angle or distance between two bones; to straighten

ABDUCTION (abd.) moving a limb away from the midline

ADDUCTION (add.) Movement of a limb toward the midline

ROTATION (rot.) movement of a bone around its longitudinal axis

MUSCLE MOVEMENTS

CIRCUMDUCTION (circumd.) combination of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction

PRONATION (pron.) moving of the palm of the hand from an anterior to a posterior position

SUPINATION (sup.) Palm is from posterior to anterior; Palm is facing “up” – cup of soup

INVERSION (inv.) turning the sole of the foot so that it faces medially

EVERSION (ev., ever.) Turns the sole of the foot laterally

DORSIFLEXION (d.f.) ankle movement that moves the instep of the foot up and toward the tibia Example - Standing on your heels

PLANTAR FLEXION (p.f.) straightens the ankle joint causing the toes to point downward Example: to stand on your toes

PRIME MOVER (agonist) muscle that has the major responsibility for causing a movement

ANTAGONIST muscle that opposes or reverses a movement; relaxes when prime mover is active.

SYNERGIST helps prime movers by producing the same movement or by reducing an unnecessary movement

FIXATORS are specialized synergists; hold or stabilize the origin of a prime mover