Which term means bending a joint?

• A. Extension
• B. External
• C. Exposure
• D. Flexion

Answer: (D)

Flexion is the act of bending a joint, which decreases the angle between the bones involved. For example, bending the elbow brings the forearm toward the upper arm. The opposite action is extension, which straightens the joint and increases that angle. The other terms don’t describe bending—external can refer to outward rotation in some contexts, exposure isn’t a movement term, and extension is the straightening motion.