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Planes of movement
Muscle & Motion
Overview
This video explains the three fundamental planes of human movement: frontal, sagittal, and transverse. It details how each plane divides the body and the types of movements that occur within them. Understanding these planes is crucial for describing and analyzing physical activities, especially in fields like anatomy, kinesiology, and physical therapy, as it provides a standardized framework for classifying motion.
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Chapters
- Human movements are categorized by the plane they occur within.
- There are three primary planes: frontal, sagittal, and transverse (or horizontal).
- These planes provide a standardized way to describe and analyze motion.
Understanding these planes is essential for accurately describing and analyzing any physical movement, providing a common language for professionals and learners.
- The frontal plane runs from left to right, dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.
- Movements in this plane are typically lateral, moving side to side.
- Examples include abduction/adduction, lateral spinal flexion, foot inversion/eversion, wrist deviation, and scapular elevation/depression.
This plane helps classify movements that involve spreading limbs apart or bringing them together, or bending the body sideways.
Abduction and adduction of the arms (moving them away from or towards the body's midline).
- The sagittal plane runs from front to back, dividing the body into left and right portions.
- Movements in this plane are typically forward and backward.
- Examples include flexion and extension of various joints (shoulders, elbows, spine, ankles).
This plane is crucial for understanding movements that involve bending or straightening the body or its parts in a forward or backward direction.
Bending your elbow (flexion) or straightening it (extension).
- The transverse or horizontal plane is parallel to the floor, dividing the body into top and bottom halves.
- Movements in this plane are rotational or twisting.
- Examples include horizontal adduction/abduction, spinal rotation, and internal/external rotation of limbs (pronation/supination).
This plane allows us to describe movements that involve turning or twisting the body or its appendages, which are common in many sports and daily activities.
Rotating your forearm to turn your palm down (pronation) or up (supination).
Key takeaways
- All human movements can be classified within one of three planes: frontal, sagittal, or transverse.
- The frontal plane governs side-to-side movements.
- The sagittal plane governs forward-and-backward movements.
- The transverse plane governs rotational or twisting movements.
- Understanding these planes provides a systematic way to analyze and describe biomechanics.
- Specific joint actions are consistently associated with particular planes of movement.
Key terms
Planes of movementFrontal planeSagittal planeTransverse planeHorizontal planeAnteriorPosteriorFlexionExtensionAbductionAdductionRotationPronationSupination
Test your understanding
- How does the frontal plane divide the human body, and what types of movements occur within it?
- What is the primary characteristic of movements occurring in the sagittal plane, and what are two examples?
- Describe the orientation of the transverse plane and provide examples of movements that take place within it.
- Why is it important to understand the different planes of movement in anatomy or physical activity?
- If you are performing a bicep curl, which plane of movement are you primarily working in, and why?