Moving a body part away from the body midline is called

Moving a body part away from the body midline is called

• A. Adduction
• B. Abduction
• C. Retraction
• D. Circumduction

Answer: (B)

Abduction is movement away from the body's midline. The midline is the imaginary line that divides the body into left and right halves, so when a limb moves out to the side away from the trunk, that’s abduction. Returning the limb toward the midline is adduction. Examples include lifting the arm straight out to the side or spreading the fingers away from each other. Retraction is pulling a part backward toward the spine, and circumduction is a circular motion that combines several movements. So moving away from the midline is abduction.

Abduction is movement away from the body's midline. The midline is the imaginary line that divides the body into left and right halves, so when a limb moves out to the side away from the trunk, that’s abduction. Returning the limb toward the midline is adduction. Examples include lifting the arm straight out to the side or spreading the fingers away from each other. Retraction is pulling a part backward toward the spine, and circumduction is a circular motion that combines several movements. So moving away from the midline is abduction.