When talking about flexion and extension, we are usually referring to these movements as they occur about the coronal axis, and along the sagittal plane.ДЇlexion refers to decreasing a joint angle, and extension to increasing the joint angle back to resting anatomical position.ДЇigure 1. Now, letвЂ™s make some more sense of what these movements actually are! Left and right rotation of the atlantoaxial joint occurs in the transverse plane, and about the vertical axis. Example: left and right rotation of the atlantoaxial joint occurs about the vertical axisД«ringing together planes and axes, we will describe the movements we used above.ДЇlexion and extension of the hip occur in the sagittal plane, and about the coronal axis.ДЄbduction and adduction of the shoulder occur in the coronal plane, and about the sagittal axis.Formed by the intersection of the sagittal and coronal flames.Passes vertically from superior to inferior.Example: flexion and extension of the hip occurs about the coronal axis.Formed by the intersection of the coronal and transverse planes.Example: abduction and adduction of the shoulder about the sagittal axis.Formed by the intersection of the sagittal and transverse planes.Passes horizontally from anterior to posterior.

It is useful to think of an axis as a metal pole, and the joint rotating around this pole. There are also several different axes we use to describe the movement of a joint.

Example: left and right rotation of the atlantoaxial joint occurs in the transverse plane.

Divides the body into superior and inferior halves.

Example: abduction and adduction of the shoulder occurs in the coronal plane.

Divides the body into anterior and posterior halves.

Example: flexion and extension of the hip occurs in the sagittal plane.

Paramedian plane refers to subdividing one half.

Divides the body into left and right halves.

There are several different planes that we use to describe the body and movements.

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Abduction definition anatomy