Cardinal Anatomic Planes of Human Foot & Body - Biomechanic Functional Orthopedics - 01 - Podiatry

Dr. Glass DPM - This is an illustration that depicts the cardinal plane movements of the lower extremity. This is a biomechanical demonstration of the functional orthopedic nature of podiatry

In the anatomical lower extremity, there exist three cardinal planes: Sagittal, Frontal, & Transverse. Anatomical motion that occur parallel to these planes are considered to be the dominate motions of that plane.
 
The Horizontal, or Transverse, plane divides the foot in a superior and inferior half.  Adduction and Abduction are the motion that occur.  Parallel to this plane, adduction is when the foot and leg are medially rotated towards the midline of the body, and Abduction is when the foot and leg are laterally rotated away from the midline.
 
The Frontal, or Coronal, plane divides the foot in to Anterior and Posterior portions.  Inversion and Eversion are the motions that occur parallel in this plane.  Inversion is when the plantar surface of the foot rotates toward the midline of the body and Eversion is then the plantar surface of the foot rotates away from the midline of the body.
 
The Sagittal plane, which in the foot is approximated to the osteological axis of the 2nd metatarsal, separates the foot in to medial and lateral halves.  Parallel to this plane, Dorsiflexion and Plantarflexion refer to the relationship between the surface of the foot and the anterior surface of the leg.

Thus dorsiflexion is when the dorsum of the foot moves toward the leg whereas plantarflexion is defined when the dorsal surface of the foot  moves away from the leg.  It should be noted that process of the walking happens in the sagittal plane.
 
Triplaner motions does not occur in parallel to any of the three cardinal body planes mentioned. It is merely ONE motion consisting of components from all three body planes.  This can be demonstrated in the lower extremity by the actions of Pronation and Supination  which are triplaner motions.
 
Pronation is a motion of the foot which is comprised of eversion, dorsiflexion, and abduction. With this, the foot is seen  to move toward the anterior leg while the toes and plantar surface moving away from the midline.
 
Whereas supination consists of inversion, plantarflexion, and adduction, resulting in the foot to move away from the anterior leg and with the toes and plantar surface moving toward the midline.
 
At a particular joint, in order for a given triplaner motion to be in supination or pronations it must consist of the motions disgust above.  The amount of each movement depends of the anatomy of the joint.  With that said it is critical to understand that pronation and supination are triplanar motions, but not all triplanar motions are considered pronation or supination.

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[qrais]

your voice is so damn sexy, great job.

[DrGlassDPM]

@qrais That's probably the only compliment in the comments that's been positive about the voice/editing work done. Cheers!

[gargeer5]

abduction/adduction of the foot are supposed to be in the frontal/cardinal plane...it is assumed for these two motions that the foot will continue straight with the toes pointing down, instead of the foot bending at a right angle with the toes pointing forward...all the other motions inversion/eversion and dorsi/plantar flexion have the foot bent at a right angle

[DrGlassDPM]

@gargeer5 There is a discrepancy in the literature. Anatomic and orthopedic literature will commonly refer to abduction/adduction as what is in frontal plane, for the lower extremity.

Podiatric Biomechanics tend to favor the terminology presented in this illustration

[gargeer5]

@DrGlassDPM I see. In the end, the motion itself is far more important than the plane/axis it moves in/around. Good upload.

[DrGlassDPM]

@gargeer5 Thank you

[TheGap425]

Easy concise and clear

[fattoes786]

i gave it the thumbs up but the person speaks far too quickly!

[jemai852]

can you please give us the degrees/angle of each movement.. ? your help will be much appreciated.. thanks!

[qrais]

@DrGlassDPM For my great contribution to the comments section you can always pay me back with a live demonstration of your anatomical planes. ha-ha, no seriously this is great. Thank you.

[qrais]

@DrGlassDPM For my great contribution to the comments section you can always pay me back with a live demonstration of your anatomical planes. ha-ha, no seriously this is great. Thank you.