Author: Glossary

  • Movement system

    The physiological components that function together to produce motion at a joint or multiple body segments. The components include the support and base; modulating nerves and muscles; cardiovascular and pulmonary reserves; and cognitive-affective elements. Specialists in physical medicine are trained to manage the components of the movement system.  

  • Vermicular movement

    The wormlike movements of peristalsis.  

  • Triplanar movement

    Movement occurring around an oblique axis in all three body planes.  

  • Tooth movement

    The change in position of a tooth or teeth in the dental arch. This may be due to abnormal pressure from the tongue, pathological changes in tooth-supporting structures, malocclusion, missing teeth, or a therapeutic orthodontic procedure. Thumb sucking, if prolonged, may cause malocclusion and, eventually, displacement of teeth.  

  • Tipping movement

    Movement of a tooth crown while the root apex remains essentially stationary, resulting in an inclination of the axis of the tooth in one direction.  

  • Segmenting movement

    Movement of the intestine in which annular constrictions occur, dividing the intestine into ovoid segments.  

  • Saccadic movement

    Jerky movements of the eyes as they move from one point of fixation to another.  

  • Rotational movement

    Movement around an axis, as in hinge movement of the temporomandibular joint or rotation of a tooth around its longitudinal axis in tooth movement or extraction.  

  • Movement of restitution

    Alteration in position that aligns the fetal head with the fetal spine.  

  • Respiratory movement

    Any movement resulting from the contraction of respiratory muscles or occurring passively as a result of elasticity of the thoracic wall or lungs.