Types of Body Movement: Anatomy, Physiology, Types

Types of Body Movement explain the ways by which living organisms can move. This topic is from the chapter Locomotion and Movement of class 11 in Biology. It describes how the muscles, bones, and joints act together for a walk, run, and bend. This article is helpful for exams such as NEET and AIIMS BSc Nursing since it is the basic concept of how organisms move about and interact with their environment.

Latest: NEET 2024 Paper Analysis and Answer Key 

Don't Miss: Most scoring concepts for NEET | NEET papers with solutions

New: NEET Syllabus 2025 for Physics, Chemistry, Biology

NEET Important PYQ & Solutions: Physics | Chemistry | Biology | NEET PYQ's (2015-24)

This Story also Contains

1. Body Movements
2. Types of Body Movements
3. Body Movement in Other Animals
4. Recommended Video on Types of Body Movement

Body Movements

Body movements are motions or actions that a human body can execute with the help of its muscles, bones, and joints. These movements form an essential and inseparable part of everyday life, sports, and good health.

It comprises body movements that help humans to interact with their environment, which includes walking and reaching, but also highly athletic manoeuvres and expressive gestures. This requires complex coordination between the muscles, bones, and joints, reflecting the dynamic possibilities of the human body.

Knowing these movements not only enhances physical performance but also, more importantly, serves the purposes of joint mobility, protection from injury, and general well-being. As we go on to discuss body movements in detail, we understand how we move around and work against the forces of nature to live and pursue our activities.

Types of Joints

Also Read:

• Locomotion and Movement
• Human Skeletal System
• Joints
• Neural Control and Coordination

Types of Body Movements

Coming towards the mechanics of human movement, we get started with

Flexion and Extension

• Flexion is a decrease in the angle between two parts of the body, such as bending of the elbow.

• Extension is the opposite that is, increasing the angle. for example, straightening of the elbow.

• Important in walking, lifting, and most sports-related movements.

Abduction and Adduction

• Abduction refers to moving a part of the body away from the midline, such as raising arms sideways.

• Adduction brings it back toward the midline.

• Muscles like deltoids and pectoralis major are involved in abduction and adduction.

Rotation

• Medial rotation turns a body part toward the midline. For example, rotation of the thigh inland.

• Lateral rotation moves it away. For example, rotating the thigh outward.

• Examples: Hip and shoulder joints allow large amounts of rotational movement.

Circumduction

• A combination of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction that moves the bone in a circular motion (e.g. arm circles).

• Important for actions such as swimming and throwing.

Special Movements

• Pronation and Supination

• Dorsiflexion and Plantarflexion

• Inversion and Eversion

Muscles and Movements

• Many muscles act in various movements.

• Biceps and triceps in flexion and extension.

• Quadriceps and hamstrings in knee movements.

Biomechanics and Functional Implications

• Bones, joints, and muscles all work together to create fluid motions.

• The ligaments and tendons give stability and control.

• Range of Motion: The idea of flexibility and strength obtained by exercises avoids injuries and builds excellence in sports.

Body Movement in Other Animals

Different mechanisms have been adopted by different animals to move the body depending on their environment and body shapes. The main modes of movement in animals are as follows:

Amoeboid Movement: Amoeba is a unicellular creature; it moves around in its environment by creating outgrowths of the plasma membrane, which are pseudo-podia. Human white blood cells move through the tissue in a similar manner using amoeboid movement.

Ciliary Movement: Many small aquatic animals, for example, paramecium, use tiny hair-like structures called cilia to move by whipping in coordinated waves. Cilia are also found in cells of the human respiratory tract, where they help facilitate the movement of mucus.

Flagellar Movement: Some organisms, including bacteria and sperm cells, employ flagella, which look like whip-like tails, to propel themselves through fluids.

Muscular Movement: Most multicellular animals including vertebrates as man are moving by contractions of muscles. Muscular movements are used by limbs in walking, running or flight. In fish, muscular movement in tails and fins is used in swimming while in birds chest muscles provide the power in flying.

Hydraulic Movement: Some species, such as starfish, use a water vascular system. They make themselves move by changing the flow of pressure through their tube feet, expanding and then contracting these to travel around surfaces.

Also Read:

Recommended Video on Types of Body Movement