What movement is described by bringing the arm away from the body's midline?

Bringing the arm away from the body's midline is known as abduction. This term is derived from the Latin word "abducere," which means "to lead away." When a limb moves away from the central axis or the mid-sagittal plane of the body, this is specifically referred to as abduction. In the case of the arm, abduction occurs at the shoulder joint and involves raising the arm sideways, creating an angle that increases the distance between the arm and the midline of the body.

In contrast, adduction, which is often confused with abduction, refers to the movement of bringing a limb toward the midline of the body. Flexion and extension relate to bending and straightening a limb, respectively, and do not specifically involve movement away from or towards the midline. Thus, understanding the directional terms of movement in anatomy is crucial for correctly identifying actions like abduction.