Chart for Location of Joint Centers of Motion with Surface Landmarks

• Shoulder
• Scapulothoracic Upward and Downward Rotation: near anatomical position, the axis is in the superior angle of the scapula. With significant humeral elevation, the axis moves to the acromion process.
  
• Scapula
• Glenohumeral joint
  • Mid-region of the bony mass of the humeral head and greater and lesser tubercles
  • Humeral Head
  • Greater Tubercle and Lesser Tubercle
• Elbow
• Mid-point of a line between (a) the most distal palpable point of the medial epicondyle of the humerus, and (b) a point about 8 mm proximal to the radio-humeral junction.
• Wrist and Hand
• Anterior or palmar surface - mid-point of the line between the radial styloid process and the center of the pisiform bone.
• Posterior or dorsal surface - palpable groove between the lunate and capitate bones, on a line with metacarpal 3.
• Hip
  
  • Center of the femoral head
  • Projection from the anterior aspect of the hip - Locate the midpoint along the line between one anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and the pubic tubercle. From this midpoint, move distally along a perpendicular line from the midpoint 4 cm.
  • Projection from the lateral aspect of the hip about 1 cm anterior to the most laterally projecting part of the greater trochanter of the femur.
  • Palpation of the Location of the Hip Joint In Vivo
  
  
• Knee (Lateral Femoral Epicondyle)

• Line between the centers of the posterior convexity of the femoral condyles.
• As projection from the lateral aspect of the knee, the lateral femoral epicondyle often is used as the surface landmark for the knee joint axis of rotation for knee flexion and extension.
• Palpation of the Lateral Femoral Epicondyle


• Current investigation indicates that the knee joint axis of rotation is more transcondylar, which is not easily located with surface palpation.
• Ankle
• Line between the tip of the lateral malleolus of the fibula and a point 5 mm distal to the medial malleolus of the tibia

• Palpation of the Medial Malleolus


• Palpation of the Lateral Malleolus