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Glam Journal

Where does abduction and adduction occur

Author

Matthew Perez

Updated on April 18, 2026

Abduction and adduction motions occur within the coronal plane and involve medial-lateral motions of the limbs, fingers, toes, or thumb. Abduction moves the limb laterally away from the midline of the body, while adduction is the opposing movement that brings the limb toward the body or across the midline.

Where can adduction occur?

Adduction – movement towards the midline of the body. This occurs at the hip and shoulder, returning the arms and legs back to their original position from a jumping jack movement or when swimming breaststroke.

At what joint does abduction adduction occur in the fingers?

At the metacarpal-phalangeal joints, we can see individual or combined abduction and adduction of the fingers (phalanges) (Figure 2).

What is an example of abduction and adduction?

Adduction is the movement of a body part toward the body’s midline. So, if a person has their arms straight out at the shoulders and brings them down to their sides, it is adduction. … Abduction is any motion of the limbs or other body parts that pulls away from the midline of the body.

Is there more abduction or adduction in the wrist?

Adduction of the hand is considera- bly greater than abduction perhaps due to more prox- imal site of ulnar styloid process and it occurs mostly at the radiocarpal joint; whereas the abduction from the neutral position occurs at the midcarpal joint, the prox- imal carpal row is not moving considerably.

What's abduction and adduction?

Abduction and adduction are terms that refer to certain body motions or movements. … With abduction, limbs (arms, legs or fingers) are moved away from your body’s midline. Adduction, however, refers to moving your limbs closer to the midline.

What is abduction in anatomy?

In general terms, abduction in the anatomical sense is classified as the motion of a limb or appendage away from the midline of the body. In the case of arm abduction, it is the movement of the arms away from the body within the plane of the torso (sagittal plane).

What muscles abduct the wrist?

Muscle that effects abduction of the wrist (radial deviation). Wrist abductors include the flexor carpi radialis in the anterior compartment of the forearm, and the extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi ulnaris brevis, and abductor pollicis longus in the posterior compartment.

What is abduction of the leg?

Overview. Hip abduction is the movement of the leg away from the midline of the body. We use this action every day when we step to the side, get out of bed, and get out of the car. The hip abductors are important and often forgotten muscles that contribute to our ability to stand, walk, and rotate our legs with ease.

What is abduction and adduction of the hand?

Moving the limb or hand laterally away from the body, or spreading the fingers or toes, is abduction. Adduction brings the limb or hand toward or across the midline of the body, or brings the fingers or toes together.

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What plane does thumb abduction occur?

The thumb is rotated 90° to the other digits. Thus, abduction and adduction occur in a sagittal plane and flexion and extension occur in a coronal plane. Opposition, the action bringing the tip of the thumb in contact with the pads of the other fingers, is the most complex movement.

Does the thumb have a PIP?

Each of the digits, except the thumb, has three phalanges with three hinged joints: distal interphalangeal (DIP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) (figure 1), with a fingernail at the dorsal end (figure 2 and picture 1 and figure 3). … The thumb is discussed below (see ‘Thumb anatomy’ below).

Is ulnar deviation abduction or adduction?

Adduction and abduction of the wrist have alternative names that may be used: ulnar deviation (adduction) and radial deviation (abduction). Flexion of the wrist from anatomical position bends the hand forward and up. In other arm orientations, it can be thought of as “curling” the hand so the palm faces the body.

What is the difference between hip adduction and abduction?

The bottom line: Abduction refers to a movement in which you pull one or both of your arms or legs away from the midline of your body. Adduction involves pulling one or both of them toward your midline.

Where does abduction occur in the body?

Abduction and adduction motions occur within the coronal plane and involve medial-lateral motions of the limbs, fingers, toes, or thumb. Abduction moves the limb laterally away from the midline of the body, while adduction is the opposing movement that brings the limb toward the body or across the midline.

What is adduction in medical?

Adduction: Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body. The opposite of adduction is abduction.

What's hip adduction?

Hip adductors are the muscles in your inner thigh that support balance and alignment. These stabilizing muscles are used to adduct the hips and thighs or move them toward the midline of your body. … The adductors are the prime movers in each of these exercises.

Is adduction out or in?

So abduction means to keep the legs apart or “away” from each other. Through simple deduction, adduction means the opposite- to draw inward, or closer to the body.

Is hip abduction or adduction harder?

05. Abduction strength was similar bilaterally. Adduction strength was 18%-22% greater on the dominant limb. Conclusions: The greater ratios on the dominant limb are due to increased adductor strength as a result of the kicking action.

What is the difference between abduction and abduction movements with example?

Abduction is the movement of the anatomical structures away from the midline. For example, in the shoulder, abduction raises the arms out to the sides of the body. In contrast, adduction is the movement of the anatomical structures towards the midline.

What is an example of abduction movement?

For example, abduction is raising the arm at the shoulder joint, moving it laterally away from the body, while adduction brings the arm down to the side of the body. Similarly, abduction and adduction at the wrist moves the hand away from or toward the midline of the body.

What bones are involved for abduction at hip?

It is the meeting point of two bones – the pelvis and the head of the femur. As a multiaxial joint, the acetabulofemoral joint has a broad range of motion; abduction is just one of these.

Where is hip abductor pain?

Symptoms of Hip Abductor Tears The symptoms include pain and tenderness over the lateral aspect of the hip, which may aggravate with activities such as running, climbing stairs, prolonged sitting or walking, and lying on the affected side of the hip.

What is adduction muscle?

Adduction, which means to move closer to the median plane of the body, is the opposite of abduction. The abductor muscles of the leg are often referred to as the hip abductors and are comprised of the gluteus medius muscle (the primary abductor) and the gluteus minimus.

What muscle causes adduction of the wrist?

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus “Adduction” of the wrist. Having the wrist move towards the “pinkie” side. Also is usually combined with other movements such as extension/flexion. Muscles named with Ulna, typically have ulnar deviation involved.

Where is the abductor pollicis longus?

Abductor pollicis longus is a muscle found in the posterior compartment of the forearm. It is one of the five deep extensors in the forearm, along with the supinator, extensor pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus and extensor indicis.

Where is the abductor pollicis brevis?

Abductor pollicis brevis is the most lateral and the most superficial of thenar muscles, located underneath the skin. It runs from the scaphoid and trapezium bones, and from the flexor retinaculum to the proximal phalanx of thumb.

What is abduction of finger?

Abduction of the digits of the hand is defined as moving away from the midline of the hand, which is the middle digit. Adduction of the fingers returns them toward the midline, or the middle finger. … This brings the fingers together. Muscles: palmar interossei.

Can the middle finger abduction?

In human anatomy, the dorsal interossei (DI) are four muscles in the back of the hand that act to abduct (spread) the index, middle, and ring fingers away from hand’s midline (ray of middle finger) and assist in flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joints and extension at the interphalangeal joints of the index, middle …

What plane does supination occur in?

supinationpronationfrontal planeadductionabductionsagittal planeplantar flexiondorsiflexiontransverse plane (cross-section of foot)inversioneversion

What plane does hip abduction occur in?

Flexion and extension of the hip occur in the sagittal plane, and about the coronal axis. Abduction and adduction of the shoulder occur in the coronal plane, and about the sagittal axis. Left and right rotation of the atlantoaxial joint occurs in the transverse plane, and about the vertical axis.