Which term describes turning the palm to face posteriorly or inferiorly?

• A. Circumduction
• B. Pronation
• C. Flexion of the spine
• D. Extension

Answer: (B)

Turning the palm to face posteriorly or inferiorly is pronation of the forearm. In the anatomical position the palm points anteriorly; rotating the forearm so the palm faces backward (posterior) or downward (inferior) is pronation. This movement occurs at the radioulnar joints as the radius pivots around the ulna, with pronator muscles like the pronator teres and pronator quadratus driving it. The opposite movement, supination, turns the palm to face anteriorly. Circumduction describes a circular, multi-planar motion, while flexion and extension refer to bending and straightening at a joint, not forearm rotation.