Circumduction (anatomy)

In anatomy, circumduction means to move a limb in a circular manner.

Circumduction is defined as the movement pattern which is a combination of flexion, extension, adduction and abduction. It occurs at synovial joints where a circle can be described by the body part. Circumduction can be best performed at Ball and socket joints, such as the hip and shoulder, but may also be performed by other parts of the body such as fingers, hands, feet, and head. A sporting example of circumduction occurs when performing a serve in tennis or bowling a cricket ball.