Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Practice Exam

What is the term for the movement that increases the angle of a joint?

1. Extension

2. Flexion

3. Adduction

4. Abduction

The correct answer is: Extension

The term that describes the movement which increases the angle of a joint is known as extension. In anatomical terms, extension refers to the action of straightening a joint, thereby increasing the distance between the two parts of the body that are connected by that joint. This movement typically occurs in a forward or backward motion and is crucial in many daily activities, such as standing up from a seated position or lifting an arm. In contrast, flexion is the movement that decreases the angle of a joint, bringing two body parts closer together. Adduction and abduction are movements that relate to the limbs' movement toward or away from the body's midline, respectively. Understanding these terms is fundamental in the study of kinematics and anatomy, especially for those involved in health records management and rehabilitation.