Dorsiflexion of the foot means which movement?

• A. Fleion of the ankle toward the sole of the foot.
• B. Rotation of the foot inward.
• C. Backward bending of the foot.
• D. Rotation of the foot outward.

Answer: (C)

Dorsiflexion is moving the foot at the ankle so the top of the foot is brought closer to the shin, effectively lifting the toes upward and reducing the angle between the dorsum of the foot and the leg. This is the opposite of pointing the toes downward, which is plantar flexion. Among the descriptions, “backward bending of the foot” best captures the upward, toward-the-shin movement. The other options describe rotation or pointing the foot downward, which are not dorsiflexion.