Adduktsioon

Adduktsioon, or adduction in anatomy, is the movement of a body part toward the midline of the body. It is defined relative to the midline and is the opposite of abduktsioon (abduction). Adduction occurs at many joints, including the shoulder, hip, fingers, and toes, and can describe actions such as scapular retraction.

In the shoulder joint, adduction draws the arm toward the trunk. Primary muscles involved are the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi, with teres major contributing as well. At the hip, adduction brings the thigh toward the midline, driven mainly by the adductor group (adductor longus, brevis, magnus), along with gracilis and pectineus. In the hand, finger adduction moves digits toward the middle finger, performed by the palmar interossei, while the dorsal interossei mediate abduction. For the scapula, adduction is synonymous with retraction, produced by the rhomboids and the middle fibers of the trapezius. Adduction also occurs in the vocal apparatus, where glottal adduction closes the vocal cords for phonation.

Clinical relevance includes the role of adductor muscles in athletic groin strains and other injuries, as well as the importance of balanced adduction and abduction for joint stability, posture, and gait. Abnormal or excessive adduction can contribute to movement dysfunction if not properly managed in rehabilitation or training programs.

Etymology: from Latin adducere, “to lead toward.” Related terms include abduction, circumduction, and opposition.