Which term indicates movement that decreases the angle at a joint, such as bending the knee, hip, and ankle?

Which term indicates movement that decreases the angle at a joint, such as bending the knee, hip, and ankle?

• A. Abduction
• B. Rotation
• C. Extension
• D. Flexion

Answer: (D)

Movement that decreases the angle at a joint is flexion. When you bend the knee, the shin moves toward the thigh, reducing the angle between those bones; the same idea applies to bending the hip (thigh toward the torso) and the ankle (foot toward the leg). In skiing, these bends—knee, hip, and ankle flexion—are essential for absorbing terrain and staying balanced. Abduction moves a limb away from the body's midline, rotation turns a segment around its axis, and extension increases the angle between bones, which is the opposite of what’s happening in flexion. So the term that describes bending motions that decrease joint angles is flexion.

Movement that decreases the angle at a joint is flexion. When you bend the knee, the shin moves toward the thigh, reducing the angle between those bones; the same idea applies to bending the hip (thigh toward the torso) and the ankle (foot toward the leg). In skiing, these bends—knee, hip, and ankle flexion—are essential for absorbing terrain and staying balanced. Abduction moves a limb away from the body's midline, rotation turns a segment around its axis, and extension increases the angle between bones, which is the opposite of what’s happening in flexion. So the term that describes bending motions that decrease joint angles is flexion.