Which term describes movement away from the midline of the body?

Which term describes movement away from the midline of the body?

• A. Adduction
• B. Abduction
• C. Dorsiflexion
• D. Pronation

Answer: (B)

Abduction describes movement away from the midline of the body. The midline is the imaginary line that splits the body into left and right halves. When you lift a limb out to the side, or spread fingers apart, you’re moving away from that midline. By contrast, adduction brings a part toward the midline (for example, lowering the arm back to the side or bringing the fingers together). Other terms like dorsiflexion refer to movements at the ankle (lifting the front of the foot toward the shin), and pronation describes turning the forearm so the palm faces downward (or the foot turns inward). So the term that fits moving away from the midline is abduction.

Abduction describes movement away from the midline of the body. The midline is the imaginary line that splits the body into left and right halves. When you lift a limb out to the side, or spread fingers apart, you’re moving away from that midline. By contrast, adduction brings a part toward the midline (for example, lowering the arm back to the side or bringing the fingers together). Other terms like dorsiflexion refer to movements at the ankle (lifting the front of the foot toward the shin), and pronation describes turning the forearm so the palm faces downward (or the foot turns inward). So the term that fits moving away from the midline is abduction.