Which movement turns the palm up?

• A. Pronation
• B. Supination
• C. Circumduction
• D. Rotation

Answer: (B)

Turning the palm up is called supination. In this movement the forearm rotates so the radius and ulna are parallel, and the palm faces anteriorly (upward) when the arm is at rest. This is what you do when you hold a bowl of soup or turn your palm to face forward.

Pronation is the opposite: the palm faces downward as the radius crosses over the ulna. Circumduction is a circular, multi-directional motion at a joint, not specifically about palm orientation. Rotation refers to turning a bone around its long axis, which can occur without changing how the palm faces.