Which term best describes the bending of a joint?

The term that best describes the bending of a joint is flexion. This action typically involves a decrease in the angle between two body parts, such as when you bend your elbow or knee. During flexion, the muscle groups responsible for this movement contract, bringing the connected bones closer together and resulting in a tighter angle at the joint.

In contrast, extension is the opposite movement, where the angle increases. Rotation refers to the action of turning a body part around its axis, which is different from bending. Elevation involves raising a body part, moving it superiorly, instead of bending. Understanding these terms is vital for accurately describing movements in the body, particularly in the context of anatomy and physiology for EMT training.