Final answer:
Abduction is the movement of a limb away from the body's midline, while adduction is the movement of a limb toward the midline.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abduction occurs when a bone moves away from the midline of the body. Examples of abduction are moving the arms or legs laterally to lift them straight out to the side. Adduction is the movement of a bone toward the midline of the body. The movement of the limbs inward after abduction is an example of adduction.
Circumduction is the movement of a limb in a circular motion, as in moving the arm in a circular motion.
In human anatomy, the movement of muscles can be classified as either abduction or adduction. Abduction is the action where a limb is moved away from the midline of the body.
For example, raising your arms straight out to the sides of your body exemplifies abduction. Conversely, adduction refers to a limb moving toward the midline of the body or across it. Bringing your arms down from a raised lateral position back to your sides is a classic instance of adduction. These movements typically occur within the coronal plane and involve the medial-lateral motions of the limbs, fingers, toes, or thumb.