circumductive

Circumductive is an adjective used in anatomy to describe a muscle or movement that performs circumduction, a circular or elliptical trajectory. The term derives from the Latin circum (around) and ducere (to lead). A circumductive muscle can draw a limb in a cone-shaped sweep, combining flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and rotation. This ability enables complex motions such as reaching above the head or sweeping the wrist. The most cited example is the biceps brachii, which can flex the elbow, supinate the forearm, and produce a circumduction of the upper arm. Other muscles with circumductive capability include the triceps brachii in the forearm and the deltoid in the shoulder. Clinically, the concept is relevant in rehabilitation; therapists use circumductive movements to improve joint range and proprioception. In sports, circumductive motions are common in throwing and racket sports, where power generation depends on coordinated elbow and shoulder movements. While all muscles can contribute to circumduction with proper coordination, *circumductive* specifically highlights a primary, discrete ability to generate the circular motion in a single muscle group.

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