What is "flexion" defined as in joint movement?

Flexion is defined as the movement of a limb or joint towards the center of the body. This action typically involves decreasing the angle between two body parts, such as bending the elbow or knee. When a joint flexes, it brings the two segments closer together, facilitating actions like lifting a weight towards the shoulder or bending the torso forward.

Understanding this concept is critical in fields such as anatomy and physical therapy, as it lays the foundation for more complex movements and the mechanics of how joints function in relation to muscles and other structures in the body. The other answer choices describe movements that do not match the definition of flexion, as they refer to actions that either involve extension, rotation, or opposing movements that are not characteristic of flexion.