Adduction

Adduction is a movement which brings a limb — arm or leg — closer to the sagittal plane of the body. It is opposed to abduction.

This term is also used in reference to the operation of the muscle in anatomy or musculature.

Muscles of adduction

Upper limb

• of arm at shoulder
• Subscapularis
• Teres major
• Pectoralis major
• Infraspinatus
• Triceps brachii (caput longum)
• Latissimus dorsi
• Coracobrachialis

• of hand at wrist
• Flexor carpi ulnaris
• Extensor carpi ulnaris

• of fingers
• Palmar interossei

• of thumb
• Adductor pollicis

Lower limb

• of thigh at hip
• medial compartment of thigh/adductor muscles of the hip
• Adductor longus
• Adductor brevis
• Adductor magnus
• Pectineus
• Gracilis

• of toes (S2-S3)
• Adductor hallucis
• Plantar interossei

Other

• vocal folds
• Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle

• eyeball
• Superior rectus muscle
• Inferior rectus muscle
• Medial rectus muscle

References