Which term describes movement around an axis?

Which term describes movement around an axis?

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

Answer: (C)

Movement around an axis is rotation. An axis is a fixed line through which a body part spins or twists, so the limb turns around that line. For example, turning the head from side to side or rotating the forearm so the palm faces up or down are rotations about the neck’s or forearm’s axis. Abduction and adduction describe moving away from or toward the midline, not around an axis. Circumduction is a circular path at the end of a limb that combines several movements around multiple axes, so it isn’t rotation about a single axis.

Movement around an axis is rotation. An axis is a fixed line through which a body part spins or twists, so the limb turns around that line. For example, turning the head from side to side or rotating the forearm so the palm faces up or down are rotations about the neck’s or forearm’s axis. Abduction and adduction describe moving away from or toward the midline, not around an axis. Circumduction is a circular path at the end of a limb that combines several movements around multiple axes, so it isn’t rotation about a single axis.