What term describes movement toward the midline of the body?

What term describes movement toward the midline of the body?

• A. Abduction
• B. Flexion
• C. Adduction
• D. Rotation

Answer: (C)

Movement toward the midline of the body is called adduction. The midline is the imaginary vertical line that divides the body into left and right halves. When a limb moves closer to that line—for example, bringing the arm down to the side or moving the leg inward toward the other leg—the movement is adduction. The opposite move is abduction, which goes away from the midline (like lifting the arm out to the side). Flexion reduces a joint angle, such as bending the elbow, and rotation involves turning a part around its own axis, like twisting the head.

Movement toward the midline of the body is called adduction. The midline is the imaginary vertical line that divides the body into left and right halves. When a limb moves closer to that line—for example, bringing the arm down to the side or moving the leg inward toward the other leg—the movement is adduction. The opposite move is abduction, which goes away from the midline (like lifting the arm out to the side). Flexion reduces a joint angle, such as bending the elbow, and rotation involves turning a part around its own axis, like twisting the head.