Which movement returns a limb to the central position after abduction?

The movement that returns a limb to the central position after abduction is adduction. Abduction refers to the movement of a limb away from the midline of the body, while adduction is the opposite movement, bringing the limb back toward the midline. This makes adduction the correct choice, as it effectively reverses the action of abduction, aligning the limb back to its original position adjacent to the body.

Flexion involves decreasing the angle between two body parts, such as bending an arm or leg, and does not directly pertain to the lateral movement of limbs in relation to the body's central axis. Dorsiflexion specifically refers to the movement of the foot upward at the ankle, which is not relevant to the alignment of limbs in the context of abduction and adduction. Extension, while also involving movement, refers to increasing the angle and does not specifically provide a return to the body's central position after a lateral movement. Thus, adduction is the only term that accurately describes the movement that corrects the position following abduction.