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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Muscles, Joints and Movement

Flexion

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˈflekʃən/nounCommon term

In anatomy & physiology, flexion means: A bending movement that decreases the angle between two body parts, such as bending the elbow or the knee.

In Turkish: fleksiyon, bükme

How it is used

Used in anatomy, orthopedics and physiotherapy to describe movement and range of motion. The verb is flex, and the muscles that cause it are flexors. The opposite is extension. At the ankle there are special terms: dorsiflexion and plantar flexion.

Example sentences

  1. Knee flexion was limited to 90 degrees after the injury.

  2. Flexion of the elbow brings the hand toward the shoulder.

Common collocations

  • knee flexion
  • hip flexion
  • flexor muscles
  • plantar flexion
  • range of flexion
  • extensionA straightening movement that increases the angle between two body parts, such as straightening the elbow or the knee. It is the opposite of flexion.
  • jointA place where two or more bones meet. Some joints, like the knee, move freely; others, like those between the bones of the skull, hardly move at all.
  • contractionThe shortening or tightening of a muscle when its fibers are stimulated, producing movement or force. In the heart, contraction pushes blood out of the chambers.
  • abductionMovement of a limb or body part away from the midline of the body, such as raising the arm out to the side.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Muscles, Joints and Movement

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.