Which term describes movement toward the midline of the body?

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

Answer: (A)

Adduction describes movement toward the midline of the body. The midline is the imaginary line that runs down the center of the body, so adduction brings a limb closer to that line—for example, bringing the arms to your sides or pressing the thighs together. This is why it’s the correct term for moving toward the midline.

Abduction is the opposite—movement away from the midline, such as lifting a arm out to the side. Rotation means turning a part around its long axis, like turning the head or twisting the arm. Circumduction is a circular, cone-shaped movement at a joint that combines several of these actions.