abduction

(noun)

The movement that separates a limb or other part from the axis, or middle line, of the body.

Related Terms

(noun)

Movement away from the midline of the body.

Related Terms

Examples of abduction in the following topics:

  • Muscles that Cause Movement at the Hip Joint

    • Actions - Abducts and medially rotates the thigh and fixes the pelvis during walking.
    • Actions - Lateral rotation and abduction of the thigh at the hip.
    • Actions - Lateral rotation and abduction of the thigh at the hip.
    • Actions - Lateral rotation and abduction of the thigh at the hip.
    • Actions: Flexing, abducting and rotation of the thigh at the hip joint.

  • Muscles of the Wrist and Hand

    • Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus and Brevis – A pair of muscles located on the side of the forearm, allowing them to control extension and abduction of the wrist.

  • Dermatomes

  • Neck Muscles

    • Actions -Extends and controls abduction and adduction of the spine and neck.
    • Actions - Extends and controls abduction and adduction of the spine and neck.
    • Actions – Extends and flexes to control abduction and adduction of the spine and neck.
    • It controls adduction, abduction and rotation of the head, the intermediate region retracts the scapula, and the inferior region rotates and depresses the scapula.

  • Muscles that Cause Movement at the Foot

  • Posterior Muscles

    • Actions - Extends and controls abduction and adduction of the spine and neck.
    • Actions - Extends and controls abduction and adduction of the spine and neck.
    • Actions – Extends, flexes, and controls abduction and adduction of the spine and neck.

  • Muscles of the Shoulder

    • The lateral region assists in shoulder flexion when the shoulder is rotating, although it also assists the transverse abduction of the shoulder.
    • The supraspinatus is involved in abduction of the arm in association with the deltoid, while the other muscles facilitate rotation of the arm.
    • Past 90 degrees, the scapula needs to be rotated by the trapezius and serratus anterior to achieve abduction.

  • Synovial Joint Movements

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

    • Long-standing CTS leads to permanent nerve damage with constant numbness, atrophy of some of the muscles of the thenar eminence, and weakness of palmar abduction.

  • Types of Synovial Joints

    • Some classifications make a distinction between condyloid and ellipsoid joints, but both allow flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and circumduction movements.