View source for Functional Anatomy of the Thoracic Spine and Rib Cage

== Key Terms ==
[[Cardinal Planes and Axes of Movement|Axes]]: lines around which an object rotates. The rotation axis is a line that passes through the centre of mass. There are three axes of rotation: ''sagittal'' passing from posterior to anterior, ''frontal'' passing from left to right, and ''vertical'' passing from inferior to superior. The rotation axes of the foot joints are perpendicular to the cardinal planes. Therefore, motion at these joints results in rotations within three planes. Example: supination involves inversion, internal rotation, and plantarflexion. 

[[Bursitis|Bursae]]: reduce friction between the moving parts of the joints. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac. There are four types of bursae: adventitious, subcutaneous, synovial, and sub-muscular. 

[[Capsular and Non-Capsular Patterns|Capsule]]: one of the characteristics of the synovial joints. It is a fibrous connective tissue which forms a band that seals the joint space, provides passive and active stability and may even form articular surfaces for the joint. The capsular pattern is "the proportional motion restriction in range of motion during passive exercises due to tightness of the joint capsule."

Closed pack position: the position with the most congruency of the joint surfaces. In this position, joint stability increases. For example, the closed pack position for the interphalangeal joints is full extension.

Degrees of freedom: the direction of joint movement or rotation; there is a maximum of six degrees of freedom, including three translations and three rotations.

[[Ligament]]: fibrous connective tissue that holds the bones together.

Open (loose) pack position: position with the least joint congruency where joint stability is reduced. 

[[Cardinal Planes and Axes of Movement|Planes of movement]]: describe how the body moves. Up and down movements (flexion/extension) occur in the ''sagittal plane.'' Sideway movements (abduction/adduction) occur in the ''frontal plane''. The ''transverse plane'' movements are rotational (internal and external rotation).