Which movement of an extremity occurs in a circular motion and can be performed with ball-and-socket joints?

Which movement of an extremity occurs in a circular motion and can be performed with ball-and-socket joints?

• A. Subluxation
• B. Circumduction
• C. Arthralgia
• D. Ganglion

Answer: (B)

Circumduction is the correct answer because it specifically describes the movement of an extremity in a circular motion, which is characteristic of ball-and-socket joints like the shoulder and hip. In circumduction, the distal end of the limb moves in a circular pattern while the proximal end remains more stationary, allowing for a complex range of motion that includes flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction. This type of movement is crucial in many physical activities and demonstrates the versatility of ball-and-socket joints, which are designed to allow for a wide range of motion in multiple planes. The unique structure of these joints permits this circular movement, making circumduction a defining characteristic of their function. This distinguishes circumduction from the other terms, as they do not describe this specific type of movement associated with ball-and-socket joints.

Circumduction is the correct answer because it specifically describes the movement of an extremity in a circular motion, which is characteristic of ball-and-socket joints like the shoulder and hip. In circumduction, the distal end of the limb moves in a circular pattern while the proximal end remains more stationary, allowing for a complex range of motion that includes flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

This type of movement is crucial in many physical activities and demonstrates the versatility of ball-and-socket joints, which are designed to allow for a wide range of motion in multiple planes. The unique structure of these joints permits this circular movement, making circumduction a defining characteristic of their function. This distinguishes circumduction from the other terms, as they do not describe this specific type of movement associated with ball-and-socket joints.