Adducts

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The structures that move limbs or parts towards the body's midline are known as the associated muscles
2. Such muscles play a crucial role in movements that bring limbs closer together
3. The term refers to muscles that facilitate the inward movement of body parts towards the centerline

Etymology: "Adducts" is the third-person singular form of "adduct," which means to draw a body part toward the center of the body, as when a leg is pulled inward toward the midline. The verb was borrowed from the past participle of the Latin "adduco," meaning "to lead or bring to," a compound of "ad-" ("to") and "duco" ("to lead"). That same Latin root gives English "duct," a channel that leads something along, and "conduct," to lead together. The Latin verb "adduco" was the source of the English "adduce," meaning to cite evidence or bring forward, and "adduct" grew from the same Latin base. Its anatomical sense keeps the original picture intact: the limb is led back toward the body's center, as if guided by an invisible hand.

Synonyms: brings together, draws in

Antonyms: abducts, separates