What type of movement does 'rotation' refer to?

Rotation refers specifically to the movement of an object turning around an axis. This axis can be real, such as the axis of a joint in the human body, or imaginary, like the axis of the Earth. In anatomy, for instance, the rotation of limbs or the head involves moving the bone around its longitudinal axis, which allows for various degrees of motion in different directions.

The other options describe different kinds of movement. Bending at a joint refers to flexion, where the angle between two body segments decreases. Moving in a circular path indicates a more general motion that does not necessarily involve a fixed axis, while shifting position laterally refers to movement to the side without rotation. Therefore, rotation distinctly aligns with the concept of turning around a point or axis, making it the correct answer.