dorsiflexion

American

[dawr-suh-flek-shuhn] / ˌdɔr səˈflɛk ʃən /

noun

Anatomy.

flexion toward the back.

dorsiflexion British

/ ˌdɔːsɪˈflɛkʃən /

noun

med the bending back of a part, esp the hand or foot or their digits

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dorsiflexion

1815–25; dorsiflex to bend backward ( dorsi- + flex ¹ ) + -ion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They specifically measured changes in fiber length and angles in both the sagittal and coronal planes during passive ankle dorsiflexion.

From Science Daily • Dec. 6, 2023

“You could lack dorsiflexion in your ankle, but most likely it’s that your hip flexors are too damn tight.”

From Golf Digest • Mar. 27, 2020

This is a uniaxial hinge joint that allows only dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the foot.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Since they are located on the sides of the ankle joint, they allow for dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the foot.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Sinuses form, and the whole foot becomes greatly swollen and distorted by flattening of the sole and dorsiflexion of the toes.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023