Degree of freedom (DOF)








Design variables

Distal

Dorsiflexion


Epicondyle



Version

Extension


External (lateral) rotation




External moment


Femur


Flexion


Fluoroscopy



Force


A single coordinate of relative motion between two
bodies. Such a coordinate responds without
constraint or imposed motion to externally applied
forces or torques. For translational motion, a DOF
is a linear coordinate along a single direction. For
rotational motion, a DOF is an angular coordinate
about a single, fixed axis.

Variables that change to optimize the design.

Away from the point of attachment or origin.

Movement of the foot towards the anterior part of
the tibia in the sagittal plane.

Process that develops proximal to an articulation
and provides additional surface area for muscle
attachment.

A turning outward.

Movement that rotates the bones comprising a joint
away from each other in the sagittal plane.

Movement that rotates the distal segment laterally
in relation to the proximal segment in the transverse
plane, or places the anterior surface of a segment
away from the longitudinal axis of the body.

The load applied to the human body due to the
ground reaction forces, gravity and external forces.

The longest and heaviest bone in the body. It is
located between the hip joint and the knee joint.

Movement that rotates the bones comprising ajoint
towards each other in the sagittal plane.

Examination of body structures using an X-ray
machine that combines an X-ray source and a
fluorescent screen to enable real-time observation.

A push or a pull and is produced when one object
acts on another.