Which description defines flexion?

Which description defines flexion?

• A. Decreasing angle at joint
• B. Increasing angle at joint
• C. Movement toward midline
• D. Movement around the axis

Answer: (A)

Flexion is bending a joint to decrease the angle between the bones that meet at that joint. When you bend the elbow, the forearm moves toward the upper arm, and the elbow angle gets smaller—that’s flexion. In contrast, increasing the angle at a joint is extension, such as straightening the arm. Moving toward the midline of the body is adduction, not flexion, and moving around an axis describes rotation. So the description that specifies a decreasing angle at the joint best defines flexion.

Flexion is bending a joint to decrease the angle between the bones that meet at that joint. When you bend the elbow, the forearm moves toward the upper arm, and the elbow angle gets smaller—that’s flexion. In contrast, increasing the angle at a joint is extension, such as straightening the arm. Moving toward the midline of the body is adduction, not flexion, and moving around an axis describes rotation. So the description that specifies a decreasing angle at the joint best defines flexion.