Spinal right lateral flexion occurs around which axis?

Spinal right lateral flexion occurs around the Z axis, also referred to as the vertical or longitudinal axis. This movement involves bending the spine to the right side, effectively decreasing the angle between the right side of the body and the spine.

When considering the anatomical planes, lateral flexion happens in the coronal plane, which runs from front to back, allowing the spine to flex side to side. The Z axis, which runs vertically through the body, serves as the rotational axis about which this side-bending movement occurs. Therefore, understanding the relationship between the movement and its corresponding axis helps accurately identify the mechanics of spinal motion.

In contrast, the X axis typically refers to flexion and extension movements (forward and backward bending), while the Y axis is often associated with movements such as internal and external rotation. The sagittal axis is not used in this context since it specifically relates to movements in the sagittal plane, which involve forward and backward motions rather than lateral flexion.