1.1.a. The structure and function of the skeletal system - Types of movement at hinge joints and ball and socket joints — OCR GCSE Physical Education
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1.1.a. The structure and function of the skeletal system - Types of movement at hinge joints and ball and socket joints explained
1.1.a. The structure and function of the skeletal system - Types of movement at hinge joints and ball and socket joints covers 2 specification points, including • flexion • extension and • flexion • extension • rotation • abduction •….
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Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
know the types of movement at hinge joints and be able to apply them to examples from physical activity/sport: • flexion • extension
A hinge joint allows movement in one plane only, so the two movements to learn are flexion and extension. Flexion decreases the angle at the joint, as when the elbow bends to bring the hand towards the shoulder in a biceps curl. Extension increases the angle at the joint, as when the elbow straightens to lower the weight or when the knee straightens at the end of a kick. Apply each term to a named joint in a named activity, and state which movement is happening at that moment rather than describing the whole action. A reliable method is to picture the joint angle closing for flexion and opening for extension.
know the types of movement at ball and socket joints and be able to apply them to examples from physical activity/sport: • flexion • extension • rotation • abduction • adduction • circumduction.
A ball and socket joint, such as the shoulder or hip, allows movement in several planes because the rounded head of one bone sits in the cup of another. Flexion decreases the angle at the joint, as when a gymnast raises a knee towards the chest; extension increases it again, as when that leg straightens behind. Rotation turns the bone around its own long axis, as when a swimmer turns the whole arm inward. Abduction moves the limb away from the body's midline, as in a lateral raise; adduction brings it back towards or across the midline. Circumduction combines flexion, extension, abduction and adduction so the limb end traces a circle, as in a cricket bowler's arm circle. To apply these, name the joint, name the movement and describe the direction of the moving segment.
Your focus
- Define flexion and extension at a hinge joint
- Apply flexion and extension to named sporting actions
- Explain that a hinge joint allows movement in one plane only
Show all 6 objectives
- Define flexion, extension, rotation, abduction, adduction and circumduction at ball and socket joints.
- Apply each type of movement to a named example from physical activity or sport.
- Distinguish ball and socket movements from those available at hinge joints.
1.1.a. The structure and function of the skeletal system - Types of movement at hinge joints and ball and socket joints exam tips
Marking Points
- Defines flexion as a decrease in the angle at the joint
- Defines extension as an increase in the angle at the joint
- Applies flexion to a named hinge joint in a named sporting action, such as bending the elbow in a biceps curl
- Applies extension to a named hinge joint in a named sporting action, such as straightening the knee in a kick
- Identifies that a hinge joint permits movement in one plane only
- Names flexion as a decrease in the angle at the joint and applies it to a named sporting action such as lifting a knee towards the chest.
- Names extension as an increase in the angle at the joint and applies it to a named sporting action such as straightening the arm or leg.
- Names rotation as turning a bone around its own long axis and applies it to a named action such as turning the arm inward during a swimming stroke.
- Names abduction as movement of a limb away from the midline of the body and applies it to a named action such as raising an arm sideways.
- Names adduction as movement of a limb towards or across the midline and applies it to a named action such as bringing the arm back down to the side.
- Names circumduction as a combination of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction producing a circular path of the limb end and applies it to a named action such as an arm circle.
- Identifies the shoulder or hip as a ball and socket joint that permits movement in several planes.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Name the joint and the movement together, for example flexion at the elbow
- 💡Use a clear sporting example so the examiner can see the movement applied
- 💡Check whether the angle is closing or opening before choosing flexion or extension
- 💡Read the question to confirm it asks about a hinge joint rather than a ball and socket joint
- 💡Learn each term with one clear sporting example so you can apply it quickly in a multiple-choice question.
- 💡Check the direction of the moving body part against the midline before choosing abduction or adduction.
- 💡Remember that circumduction needs a combination of movements, so reject options that describe only one.
- 💡Read the whole option before selecting it, because distractors often swap flexion and extension.
Common Mistakes
- Reverses the definitions and calls flexion an increase in angle; keep flexion as the decrease and extension as the increase
- Gives a general action such as a throw without naming the joint movement; state flexion or extension at the named joint
- Applies the terms to a ball and socket joint when the question asks about a hinge joint; choose a hinge joint such as the elbow or knee
- Describes the whole skill instead of the joint angle; focus on whether the angle closes or opens
- Confuses abduction with adduction; remember that abduction takes the limb away from the midline and adduction brings it back.
- Describes circumduction as a single simple movement; recognise that it combines flexion, extension, abduction and adduction.
- Treats rotation as swinging the limb through space; keep rotation as turning the bone about its own long axis.
- Applies ball and socket movements to a hinge joint such as the elbow; restrict these movements to the shoulder and hip.