What term describes the circular cone-shaped movement of the arm?

The term that describes the circular cone-shaped movement of the arm is circumduction. This range of motion occurs at joints that allow for a rotational movement, enabling the arm to move in a circular or conical fashion. When performing circumduction, the arm moves in a circular path, combining flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction into one smooth motion. This is commonly observed in activities such as throwing a ball or making large circles with the arm.

Flexion refers specifically to decreasing the angle between two body parts, such as bending the elbow. Abduction involves moving a limb away from the midline of the body, while adduction is moving it back toward the midline. These movements are distinct and do not encompass the broader circular motion described by circumduction. Thus, circumduction is the most accurate term for this particular movement pattern of the arm.