Which term best describes the action of moving a body part back towards the body?

The action of moving a body part back towards the midline of the body is called adduction. This term specifically describes the movement that draws a limb or other body part inward, closer to the central axis or midline. In contrast, abduction refers to the movement of a limb away from the midline, which is the opposite of adduction.

Bending is a more general term that can refer to various joint movements but does not specifically denote the directionality of that movement relative to the body’s midline. Similarly, extension refers to increasing the angle between two body parts, such as straightening a flexed limb, which also does not encompass the idea of moving something back toward the body. Therefore, in terms of defining the specific action of moving a body part closer to the body, adduction is the most accurate term.