1. draws away from the midline of the body or from an adjacent part
Usage: anatomy; medical

Examples

• The deltoid muscle abduces the arm at the shoulder joint.
• When you raise your arm to the side, the muscle abduces your limb.
• The physical therapist explained how the muscle abduces the leg during certain exercises.
• This particular nerve injury prevents the muscle from properly abducing the thumb.
• The doctor tested whether the patient could still abduce his fingers normally.