What is the term for moving the arm laterally away from the midline of the body?

The term for moving the arm laterally away from the midline of the body is abduction. Abduction refers specifically to the movement that takes a body part away from the central axis or midline. When the arm is raised out to the side, it is said to be abducting, which is an essential movement in various functional activities and exercises.

Understanding this concept is crucial in kinesiology and physical rehabilitation since it relates to the mechanics of movement and how different muscles engage during various actions.

In contrast, adduction is the opposite movement, where a body part is brought closer to the midline. Elevation pertains to lifting a body part superiorly, such as shrugging the shoulders, and flexion is a bending movement that decreases the angle between body parts, like bending the elbow. These definitions help clarify the specific terms related to body movements.