Meaning & use
circumduction
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Meaning
noununcountabletechnicalmedical
A circular movement of a limb or joint, such as the shoulder or hip, that traces the shape of a cone.
Grammar: Used mainly in medical and anatomy contexts; it does not take an article in general use.
Patterns
- circumduction of the shoulder
- perform circumduction
- circumduction exercises
The physical therapist asked him to perform circumduction of the shoulder to improve mobility.
Circumduction combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction in one smooth motion.
The hip joint allows circumduction, which is why you can move your leg in a circle.
Common combinations
- circumduction of the shoulder
- Circumduction of the shoulder is often used in warm-up routines.
- circumduction exercises
- The trainer recommended circumduction exercises for the injured joint.
- full circumduction
- The patient could not achieve full circumduction without pain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rotation
- Rotation is turning around a central axis; circumduction is a cone-shaped movement of the whole limb.
Word family
- circumduct verb
- To move a limb in a circular, cone-like motion.
Commonly confused: circumduction or circumduction?
circumduction vs circumduction
Not to be confused with 'circumvention' (avoiding something) or 'conduction' (carrying heat or electricity).
Practice
Which movement is an example of circumduction?
Choose one answer.
Circumduction is a circular, cone-shaped movement of a limb; bending the elbow is flexion, and lifting the leg forward is flexion at the hip.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “circumduction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.