Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Practice Exam

Which of the following defines the term 'flexion'?

1. Movement away from the midline

2. Movement toward the midline

3. To decrease the angle of a joint

4. To increase the angle of a joint

The correct answer is: To decrease the angle of a joint

Flexion is defined as the movement that decreases the angle between two body parts. This occurs at a joint, resulting in a closer proximity of the involved bones. For example, when you bend your elbow or knee, you are performing flexion, as the angle between the bones is reduced. This is an essential concept in understanding human anatomy and biomechanics, as it pertains to how different muscles and joints function during movement. The other options refer to different types of movements: moving away from the midline and moving toward the midline describe abduction and adduction respectively, while increasing the angle of a joint refers to extension. Each of these movements plays a role in the overall mechanics of the body, but they do not define flexion itself. Flexion is specifically characterized by the action of decreasing the angle at the joint.