adductus

Adductus is a medical term derived from Latin, meaning that something is directed toward or toward the midline of the body. In anatomy and clinical use, adductus describes a position, alignment, or tendency of a body part to move or be positioned medially. The term is most commonly encountered as a descriptor in deformities or anatomical descriptions rather than as a standalone disease.

In orthopedics, metatarsus adductus is the best-known example. This congenital condition involves inward deviation of the forefoot relative to the hindfoot and is typically present at birth. It can be flexible or rigid, with most mild cases resolving over time. Management ranges from observation to gentle stretching or serial casting, and surgery is considered only for persistent or severe deformities.

Beyond the foot, adductus terminology appears in discussions of joint and limb positioning, indicating inward movement or alignment toward the midline. It is used to describe how a limb or other structure sits or functions, in contrast to abduction, which denotes movement away from the midline.

The term also appears in general anatomy to describe the action of muscles that bring a part toward the midline, commonly summarized as adduction. In clinical language, adductus is thus part of the broader vocabulary for describing alignment, positioning, and movement, rather than denoting a specific disease on its own.

See also: adduction, metatarsus adductus, congenital foot deformities.