FLEXION

n. Fleak's husn. Lat., flexio (from flectere, to bend). Fr.,/. Ger., F., Beugung. 1. A bending; also the state of being sent: the opposite of extension. 2. In the lobster, etc., the movement which increases the ventral curvature. [L.] Dorsal f. Ger., Ueberstreckung. The bending backward of the hand at the wrist joint so as to form an angle between the dorsal surfaces of the hand and forearm. [L, 31 (a, 29).] F. angulaire de la colonne vertbrale (Fr.). See Angular CURVATURE of the spine. F. latrale de la colonne verte'brale (Fr.). See Lateral CURVATURE of the spine. -F. of the ftetal head. Ger., Herunternteigen des Schadels. A forward inclination of the head by which it is approximated to forcirte F. Extreme f. of a limb at a joint for the purpose of checking the flow of blood through its arteries (to restrain haemorrhage or to promote coagulation in an aneurysrn). to stretch a nerve on the extensor aspect, or to break up false ankylosis. [a, 34.] [s. 74]