abduct vs. adduct

abduct vs. adduct: What's the difference?

In the context of physiology, the verbs abduct and adduct are used to indicate which direction a muscle moves a body part in relation to other body parts. Abduct means to draw a body part away from the midline of the body or away from an adjacent part or limb. Adduct means to draw a body part inward toward the median axis of the body or toward an adjacent part or limb. The prefix ab- means “away from,” while ad- means “toward.”

abduct

verb (used with object)

  1. to carry off or lead away (a person) illegally and in secret or by force, especially to kidnap.

  2. Physiology.,  to move or draw away from the axis of the body or limb (adduct ).

adduct

verb (used with object)

  1. Physiology.,  to move or draw toward the axis of the body or one of its parts (abduct ).

noun

  1. Also called addition compound. Chemistry.,  a combination of two or more independently stable compounds by means of van der Waals' forces, coordinate bonds, or covalent bonds.