In medicine, “adduction” refers to a movement that brings a body part closer to the midline of the body. This movement is typically used to describe the motion of limbs, such as the arms or legs, although it can also be used to describe the movement of other body parts, such as the fingers or toes.
For example, when you move your arm from a position where it is extended out to the side of your body, to a position where it is next to your body, you are performing adduction of the arm. Similarly, when you bring your legs together from a position where they are spread apart, you are performing adduction of the legs.
Adduction is the opposite of abduction, which is a movement that takes a body part away from the midline of the body. The two movements are often used together to describe the range of motion of a joint or body part.