What is the medical term for the inability to pull an arm toward the body?

Adduction refers to the movement of a limb toward the midline of the body. When someone is unable to pull an arm toward the body, it indicates a loss of this ability, which is specifically related to the action of adduction. This term is derived from the Latin "adducere," which means "to lead to."

In the context of the other terms, abduction describes the movement of a limb away from the body, which is the opposite of what is being asked. Flexion refers to the bending of a joint, while extension describes the straightening of a joint. Neither flexion nor extension applies to the inability to pull an arm toward the body, as these terms concern the angle changes at a joint rather than the directional movement toward or away from the body’s midline.