Final answer:
Circumduction is the motion where one end of an appendage stays stationary and the other moves in a circular manner, involving flexion, adduction, extension, and abduction at a joint.
Step-by-step explanation:
The motion in which one end of an appendage remains stationary while the other end makes a circular motion is called circumduction. This sort of movement is typically observed in biaxial condyloid and saddle joints, and multiaxial ball-and-socket joints, such as in the arm, thigh, hand, thumb, or finger. Circumduction involves a combination of four types of movement at a joint: flexion, adduction, extension, and abduction. Each of these contributes to the composite motion that allows for the circular motion of the limb or appendage.
An everyday example of circumduction is when you draw a circle in the air with your finger. The tip of the finger traces a circular path while the base of the finger remains relatively stationary. Understanding this motion grants insight into the complex ways our joints and muscles work together to allow for a wide range of movement.