What term describes the movement of a limb in a circular path?

The term that describes the movement of a limb in a circular path is circumduction. This movement involves a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction, which collectively allow the distal part of the limb to move in a circular motion while the proximal end remains relatively stable. This is commonly observed in joints such as the shoulder or hip, where the limb can trace a circular path through the range of motion available.

In contrast, rotation refers to the movement of a body part around its own axis, which does not necessarily involve a circular path in space. Flexion is the bending of a joint that decreases the angle between two body parts, while abduction is the movement of a body part away from the midline of the body. Each of these terms describes more specific types of movements rather than the broader, circular motion described by circumduction.