List of movements of the human body
The list below describes such skeletal movements as normally are possible in particular joints of the human body. Other animals have different degrees of movement at their respective joints; this is because of differences in positions of muscles and because structures peculiar to the bodies of humans and other species block motions unsuited to their anatomies.
Arm and shoulder
Shoulder
| Movement | Muscles | Origin | Insertion |
| Flexion | Anterior fibers of deltoid | Clavicle | Middle of lateral surface of shaft of humerus |
| Flexion | Clavicular part of pectoralis major | Clavicle | Lateral lip of bicipital groove of humerus |
| Flexion | Long head of biceps brachii | Supraglenoid tubercle of scapula | Tuberosity of radius, Deep fascia of forearm |
| Flexion | Short head of biceps brachii | Coracoid process of scapula | Tuberosity of radius, Deep fascia of forearm |
| Flexion | Coracobrachialis | Coracoid process | Medial aspect of shaft of humerus |
| Extension | Posterior fibers of deltoid | Spine of scapula | Middle of lateral surface of shaft of humerus |
| Extension | Latissimus dorsi | Iliac crest, lumbar fascia, spines of lower six thoracic vertebrae, lower 3–4 ribs, inferior angle of scapula | Floor of bicipital groove of humerus |
| Extension | Teres major | Lateral border of scapula | Medial lip of bicipital groove of humerus |
| Abduction | Middle fibers of deltoid | Acromion process of scapula | Middle of lateral surface of shaft of humerus |
| Abduction | Supraspinatus | Supraspinous fossa of scapula | Greater tubercle of humerus |
| Adduction | Sternal part of pectoralis major | Sternum, upper six costal cartilages | Lateral lip of bicipital groove of humerus |
| Adduction | Latissimus dorsi | Iliac crest, lumbar fascia, spines of lower six thoracic vertebrae, lower 3-4 ribs, inferior angle of scapula | Floor of bicipital groove of humerus |
| Adduction | Teres major | Lower third of lateral border of scapula | Medial lip of bicipital groove of humerus |
| Adduction | Teres minor | Upper two thirds of lateral border of scapula | Greater tubercle of humerus |
| Lateral rotation | Infraspinatus | Infraspinous fossa of scapula | Greater tubercle of humerus |
| Lateral rotation | Teres minor | Upper two thirds of lateral border of scapula | Greater tubercle of humerus |
| Lateral rotation | Posterior fibers of deltoid | Spine of scapula | Middle of lateral surface of shaft of humerus |
| Medial rotation | Subscapularis | Subscapular fossa | Lesser tubercle of humerus |
| Medial rotation | Latissimus dorsi | Iliac crest, lumbar fascia, spines of lower 3-4 ribs, inferior angle of scapula | Floor of bicipital groove of humerus |
| Medial rotation | Teres major | Lower third of lateral border of scapula | Medial lip of bicipital groove of humerus |
| Medial rotation | Anterior fibers of deltoid | Clavicle | Middle of lateral surface of shaft of humerus |
The major muscles involved in retraction include the rhomboid major muscle, rhomboid minor muscle and trapezius muscle, whereas the major muscles involved in protraction include the serratus anterior and pectoralis minor muscles.
Sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints
| Scapula and clavicula | Abduction | Adduction |
| Depression | Elevation | |
| Rotation Upward | Rotation Downward |
Elbow
| Joint | From | To | Description |
| Humeroulnar joint | trochlear notch of the ulna | trochlea of humerus | Is a simple hinge-joint, and allows of movements of flexion and extension only. |
| Humeroradial joint | head of the radius | capitulum of the humerus | Is a ball-and-socket joint. |
| Superior radioulnar joint | head of the radius | radial notch of the ulna | In any position of flexion or extension, the radius, carrying the hand with it, can be rotated in it. This movement includespronation and supination. |
Wrist and fingers
| Wrist & Midcarpals | Flexion | Extension / Hyperextension |
| Adduction | Abduction |
Movements of the fingers
Movements of the thumb
Neck
| Neck | Flexion | Extension / Hyperextension |
| Lateral Flexion | Reduction | |
| Rotation | - |
Spine
| Cervical spine | Flexion | Extension / Hyperextension |
| Lateral Flexion | Reduction | |
| Rotation | ||
| Thoracic spine | Flexion | Extension / Hyperextension |
| Lateral Flexion | Reduction | |
| Rotation | ||
| Lumbar spine | Flexion | Extension / Hyperextension |
| Lateral Flexion | Reduction | |
| Rotation |
Lower limb
Knees
| Knee | Flexion | Extension |
| Medial Rotation | Lateral Rotation |
Feet
| Metatarsophalangeal | Flexion | Extension / Hyperextension |
| Abduction | Adduction |
| Interphalangeal | Flexion | Extension |
The muscles tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior invert the foot. Some sources also state that the triceps surae and extensor hallucis longus invert. Inversion occurs at the subtalar joint and transverse tarsal joint.
Eversion of the foot occurs at the subtalar joint. The muscles involved in this include Fibularis longus and fibularis brevis, which are innervated by the superficial fibular nerve. Some sources also state that the fibularis tertius everts.
Dorsiflexion of the foot: The muscles involved include those of the Anterior compartment of leg, specifically tibialis anterior muscle, extensor hallucis longus muscle, extensor digitorum longus muscle, and peroneus tertius. The range of motion for dorsiflexion indicated in the literature varies from 12.2 to 18 degrees. Foot drop is a condition, that occurs when dorsiflexion is difficult for an individual who is walking.
Plantarflexion of the foot: Primary muscles for plantar flexion are situated in the Posterior compartment of leg, namely the superficial Gastrocnemius, Soleus and Plantaris, and the deep muscles Flexor hallucis longus, Flexor digitorum longus and Tibialis posterior. Muscles in the Lateral compartment of leg also weakly participate, namely the Fibularis longus and Fibularis brevis muscles. Those in the lateral compartment only have weak participation in plantar flexion though. The range of motion for plantar flexion is usually indicated in the literature as 30° to 40°, but sometimes also 50°. The nerves are primarily from the sacral spinal cord roots S1 and S2. Compression of S1 roots may result in weakness in plantarflexion; these nerves run from the lower back to the bottom of the foot.
:wikt:pronation|Pronation at the forearm is a rotational movement at the radioulnar joint, or of the foot at the subtalar and talocalcaneonavicular joints. For the forearm, when standing in the anatomical position, pronation will move the palm of the hand from an anterior-facing position to a posterior-facing position without an associated movement at the shoulder joint). This corresponds to a counterclockwise twist for the right forearm and a clockwise twist for the left. In the forearm, this action is performed by pronator quadratus and pronator teres muscle. Brachioradialis puts the forearm into a midpronated/supinated position from either full pronation or supination. For the foot, pronation will cause the sole of the foot to face more laterally than when standing in the anatomical position.
Pronation of the foot is a compound movement that combines abduction, eversion, and dorsiflexion. Regarding posture, a pronated foot is one in which the heel bone angles inward and the arch tends to collapse. Pronation is the motion of the inner and outer ball of the foot with the heel bone. One is said to be "knock-kneed" if one has overly pronated feet. It flattens the arch as the foot strikes the ground in order to absorb shock when the heel hits the ground, and to assist in balance during mid-stance. If habits develop, this action can lead to foot pain as well as knee pain, shin splints, achilles tendinitis, posterior tibial tendinitis, piriformis syndrome, and plantar fasciitis..