Which phrase best describes 'flexion' in joint movements?

Flexion is a fundamental movement that occurs at synovial joints, where two bones meet. The phrase that best describes flexion is "decreasing the angle between two bones." This description captures the essence of the movement, which typically involves pulling two body parts closer together, such as bending the elbow or the knee.

In these scenarios, the angle formed by the two bones decreases as the movement occurs. For example, when you bend your arm at the elbow, the forearm moves toward the upper arm, effectively reducing the angle at that joint. This action contrasts with other types of movements, such as extension, which increases the angle between the bones, or abduction and adduction, which involve moving limbs away from or toward the midline of the body.

Understanding flexion is crucial for medical administrative assistants, as it relates to patient movements and rehabilitation exercises.