What movement terms describe the various actions of joints?

The chosen answer accurately identifies terms that describe movements associated with joints, specifically defining the various actions they can perform.

Flexion involves decreasing the angle between two body parts, such as bending the elbow or knee. Extension is the opposite of flexion, where the angle between the body parts increases, such as straightening the arm or leg. Rotation refers to the circular movement around an axis, like turning the head or twisting the torso. Abduction describes the movement of a limb away from the midline of the body, whereas its counterpart, adduction, means moving a limb toward the midline.

These terms are well-established in the study of joint movement and anatomy, making the selected answer comprehensive and relevant for understanding joint actions in the context of laboratory animal care and research. It provides a clear framework for identifying and describing functional movements in animals, which is crucial for evaluating their physical health and implementing proper care.

The incorrect choices contain terms that either do not represent standard joint movements or are less relevant to this context. For example, stability, while important in biomechanics, does not describe a movement but rather a condition that joints can exhibit. Divergence and convergence are terms more commonly associated with behaviors in evolutionary biology and do not pertain to joint actions