Which movement is characterized by moving a limb away from the midline of the body?

The movement of a limb away from the midline of the body is known as abduction. This term originates from the Latin word "abducere," meaning to lead away. For instance, when you raise your arms to the side, you are moving them away from your torso, which exemplifies abduction.

In contrast, adduction refers to bringing a limb closer to the midline of the body, while retraction involves moving a part of the body backward, particularly in relation to the shoulder blade or jaw positions. Extension generally refers to increasing the angle between two parts of the body, such as straightening a bent elbow. Understanding these terms is crucial in fields related to anatomy, physical therapy, and exercise science, as they describe fundamental movements of the body.