Which term describes the action of bending or folding a joint?

The term that describes the action of bending or folding a joint is flexion. Flexion occurs when the angle at a joint decreases, bringing two body parts closer together. This motion is commonly seen in joints such as the elbow or knee when they bend.

For example, when you raise your forearm toward your shoulder, the elbow joint experiences flexion. Understanding flexion is essential for laboratory animal technicians, as they might need to assess the movements of laboratory animals, evaluate their range of motion, or examine any injuries related to joint movement.

In contrast, extension is the straightening of a joint, abduction refers to moving a limb away from the midline of the body, and adduction is the movement of a limb toward the midline. These terms describe different types of movements that do not specifically refer to the action of bending a joint.