adduction
Last reviewed 01/2018
Adduction is the movement of a constituent part of the body perpendicularly but towards the median plane. For example, movement of the eye towards the midline by the medial rectus muscle.
Exceptions include:
- adduction in the hands and feet where it describes a movement of a 'fanned out' digit or digits towards the median plane
- adduction of the thumb where it describes the movement of the abducted thumb back into the plane of the palm
Adduction is the opposite of abduction.