pull away from the body; "this muscle abducts"
Movement of any extremity away from the midline of the body. This action is achieved by an abductor muscle.
A movement away from the medial plane (see also antonym - ADDUCT). In the orbit, the abducens nerve supplies the lateral rectus muscle that pulls the eye laterally outward. Vocal Cords ABDUCTED and ADDUCTED (laryngeal tomograms). image
To spread apart or separate. The paired vocal folds abduct when we breathe in to allow air to go into the lungs.