Anatomy & Physiology for Gyrotonic Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real GC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Anatomy & Physiology for Gyrotonic Practice flashcards as text
Which anatomical plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) halves?
Answer: Frontal (coronal) plane
The frontal (coronal) plane divides the body into anterior and posterior sections and is the plane in which lateral flexion and abduction/adduction movements occur.
The rotator cuff, which stabilizes the glenohumeral joint during Gyrotonic upper-body work, consists of how many muscles?
Answer: 4
The rotator cuff is composed of four muscles — supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis — commonly remembered by the acronym SITS.
The psoas major, a deep core muscle emphasized in Gyrotonic practice, is best known for which primary function?
Answer: Hip flexion
The psoas major is the primary hip flexor, connecting the lumbar vertebrae to the lesser trochanter of the femur and playing a critical role in core stability and spinal alignment.
Which sensory receptors embedded within muscle tissue are primarily responsible for detecting changes in muscle length, forming the basis of proprioception?
Answer: Muscle spindles
Muscle spindles are sensory receptors located within muscle fibers that detect changes in muscle length and the rate of stretching, providing critical proprioceptive feedback to the nervous system.
The hip joint, which is central to many Gyrotonic movements, is formed by which bones?
Answer: Head of the femur and acetabulum of the pelvis
The hip joint is formed by the head of the femur articulating within the acetabulum, a cup-shaped socket formed by the fusion of the ilium, ischium, and pubis.
Fascia, which is increasingly recognized as important in movement practices like Gyrotonic, is best described as:
Answer: A body-wide network of connective tissue surrounding muscles and organs
Fascia is a continuous web of connective tissue that surrounds, supports, and interconnects muscles, bones, organs, and nerves throughout the entire body.
The thoracic spine's range of motion in flexion and extension is more limited than other spinal regions primarily because of its articulation with which structures?
Answer: The ribs
The thoracic vertebrae articulate with the ribs, which form the rib cage and significantly limit flexion and extension range of motion compared to the cervical and lumbar regions.