Abduction is movement away from the midline in which plane?

• A. Sagittal plane
• B. Frontal plane
• C. Oblique plane
• D. Transverse plane

Answer: (B)

Abduction moves a limb away from the body's midline, and this action occurs in the frontal plane. The frontal plane divides the body into front and back portions, so moving laterally—like lifting the arm out to the side or spreading the legs away from the midline—happens within that plane. The opposite movement, adduction, brings the limb back toward the midline in the same plane. Movements in the sagittal plane involve flexion and extension, while those in the transverse plane involve rotation, and the oblique plane describes movements that mix angles across planes. So, abduction’s action and orientation sit squarely in the frontal plane.