Movement analysis
What's covered
Key facts
Lever systems
A bicep curl works through a third-class lever while a calf raise (plantarflexion) works through a second-class lever.
Planes and axes of movement
A cartwheel (side-to-side rotation) takes place in the frontal plane, rotating around the sagittal axis.
Lever systems
A first-class lever in the body is the neck: nodding/extending the head about the atlanto-occipital joint, with the joint as the fulcrum between the neck muscles (effort) and the weight of the head (load).
Planes and axes of movement
The longitudinal (vertical) axis runs from head to toe; rotational movements turn about it.
Lever systems
In a first-class lever the fulcrum lies in the middle, between the effort and the load.
Planes and axes of movement
The sagittal (anteroposterior) axis runs from front to back; side-to-side rotations turn about it.
Lever systems
Every lever system has three components: a fulcrum (pivot), an effort (force applied) and a load (resistance to be moved).
Planes and axes of movement
The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right halves; flexion/extension movements occur in it.
Lever systems
Plantarflexion at the ankle (rising on tiptoes / a calf raise) is a second-class lever: the ball of the foot is the fulcrum, body weight is the load and the gastrocnemius supplies the effort.
Planes and axes of movement
A spinning ice skater rotates in the transverse plane, around the longitudinal (vertical) axis.
Sample questions
A taste of the 19 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
What are the three components of a lever system?
- •axis, force, resistance
- ✓fulcrum, effort, load
- •joint, muscle, tendon
- •origin, insertion, belly
Which plane divides the body into upper and lower halves?
- •frontal (coronal) plane
- •oblique plane
- •sagittal (median) plane
- ✓transverse (horizontal) plane
In a first-class lever, where is the fulcrum?
- •At the end furthest from the load
- •At the same position as the effort
- ✓Between the effort and the load
- •Between the load and the end of the lever
In which plane does a cartwheel (side-to-side) movement occur?
- •Diagonal plane
- ✓Frontal plane
- •Sagittal plane
- •Transverse plane
Give a sporting example of a first-class lever in the body.
- •elbow flexion (bicep curl)
- ✓head nodding (neck extension)
- •knee extension (kicking)
- •plantarflexion at the ankle
In which plane does a spinning ice skater rotate?
- •Diagonal plane (around a vertical axis)
- •Frontal plane (around a sagittal axis)
- •Sagittal plane (around a transverse axis)
- ✓Transverse plane (around a longitudinal axis)
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