Bending the wrist toward the palm is known as which movement?

Bending the wrist toward the palm is known as which movement?

• A. Wrist extension
• B. Dorsiflexion of the wrist
• C. Radial deviation
• D. Palmar flexion of the wrist

Answer: (D)

Bending the wrist toward the palm is wrist flexion, specifically palmar (volar) flexion. When the front of the hand moves closer to the inside of the forearm, the wrist joints shorten the flexor muscles to bring the palm down. This is different from wrist extension (the back of the hand moves toward the forearm) and from dorsiflexion, which is another term for the extension direction. It’s also not a sideways movement—that would be radial deviation toward the thumb side.

Bending the wrist toward the palm is wrist flexion, specifically palmar (volar) flexion. When the front of the hand moves closer to the inside of the forearm, the wrist joints shorten the flexor muscles to bring the palm down. This is different from wrist extension (the back of the hand moves toward the forearm) and from dorsiflexion, which is another term for the extension direction. It’s also not a sideways movement—that would be radial deviation toward the thumb side.