Abduction

Abduction refers to the movement of a body part away from the midline of the body. This term is commonly used in anatomy and physiology to describe the motion of limbs or other body parts. Abduction is the opposite of adduction, which is the movement towards the midline of the body.

Types of Abduction

Abduction can occur in various parts of the body, including:

• Shoulder abduction: Movement of the arm away from the body.
• Hip abduction: Movement of the leg away from the midline.
• Finger abduction: Movement of the fingers away from the central axis of the hand.
• Thumb abduction: Movement of the thumb away from the palm.

Muscles Involved in Abduction

Several muscles are responsible for abduction movements in different parts of the body:

• Deltoid muscle: Responsible for shoulder abduction.
• Gluteus medius and gluteus minimus: Responsible for hip abduction.
• Dorsal interossei: Responsible for finger abduction.
• Abductor pollicis longus and abductor pollicis brevis: Responsible for thumb abduction.

Clinical Significance

Abduction movements are essential for various daily activities and functional movements. Impairments in abduction can result from injuries, neurological conditions, or musculoskeletal disorders. For example, a rotator cuff tear can affect shoulder abduction, while conditions like hip dysplasia can impact hip abduction.

Related Pages

• Adduction
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Musculoskeletal system
• Rotator cuff tear
• Hip dysplasia
• List of abductors