Circumduction (anatomy) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

In anatomy

Anatomy

Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...

, circumduction means to move a limb in a circular manner.

Circumduction is defined as the movement pattern which is a combination of flexion

Flexion

In anatomy, flexion is a position that is made possible by the joint angle decreasing. The skeletal and muscular systems work together to move the joint into a "flexed" position. For example the elbow is flexed when the hand is brought closer to the shoulder...

, extension

Extension (kinesiology)

In kinesiology, extension is a movement of a joint that results in increased angle between two bones or body surfaces at a joint. Extension usually results in straightening of the bones or body surfaces involved. For example, extension is produced by extending the flexed elbow. Straightening of...

, adduction

Adduction

Adduction is a movement which brings a part of the anatomy closer to the middle sagittal plane of the body. It is opposed to abduction.-Upper limb:* of arm at shoulder ** Subscapularis** Teres major** Pectoralis major** Infraspinatus...

and abduction

Abduction (kinesiology)

Abduction, in functional anatomy, is a movement which draws a limb away from the median plane of the body. It is thus opposed to adduction.-Upper limb:* of arm at shoulder ** Supraspinatus** Deltoid* of hand at wrist...

. It occurs at synovial joints where a circle can be described by the body part. Circumduction can be best performed at Ball and socket joint

Ball and socket joint

A ball and socket joint is a joint in which the distal bone is capable of motion around an indefinite number of axes, which have one common center...

s, such as the hip and shoulder

Shoulder

The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...

, but may also be performed by other parts of the body such as fingers, hands, feet, and head .