Which term is synonymous with abduction?

Abduction refers to the movement of a body part away from the midline of the body. In this context, protraction is the correct answer as it also describes a forward movement of a body part, similar to how abduction involves a movement that effectively pushes the limb or muscle away from the core. For example, in the context of the shoulder or scapula, protraction refers to the movement of the shoulder blades away from each other, akin to how the arms move away from the body during abduction.

This similarity in movement dynamics underscores the association between the two terms. Meanwhile, retraction would imply moving a body part closer to the midline, adduction also refers to movement towards the midline, and elevation concerns lifting a body part vertically upwards, all of which differ from the concept of abduction.