Which term describes the action of moving a limb in a circular motion?

The action of moving a limb in a circular motion is best described by the term circumduction. This movement involves a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction, resulting in a circular, cone-shaped path. Circumduction is commonly observed in joints that possess a wide range of motion, such as the shoulder and hip joints.

For example, when you swing your arm around in a circular fashion, that movement illustrates circumduction as the arm moves through a variety of angles while maintaining a central pivot point. This distinguishes it from other terms like elevation, which refers to moving a body part superiorly, horizontal adduction, which involves moving a limb toward the body's midline in a horizontal plane, and radial deviation, which pertains to movement along the wrist toward the thumb's side. Each of these terms describes specific movements that do not encompass the circular motion of circumduction.