What is the action referred to as extension in a medical context?

In a medical context, extension refers to the action of straightening a body part, which is accurately captured in the correct answer. When a joint is extended, the angle between the segments of the limb increases, leading to a change in position that often aligns with a return to a more neutral stance. For instance, extending the arm involves straightening the elbow joint, moving it from a flexed position to one where the arm is fully extended.

This term is commonly used in anatomy and physical medicine to describe movements at various joints in the body, including the knees, hips, and fingers, making it an essential concept in understanding human movement and biomechanics.