Which term refers to the position when the palms face downward?

The term that refers to the position when the palms face downward is pronation. In anatomical terms, pronation describes the rotation of the forearm so that the palm is oriented towards the ground. This movement is commonly observed when a person turns their hands to face down, such as when typing or placing hands on a table.

In contrast, supination refers to the position when the palms face upward, flexion pertains to decreasing the angle between body parts (like bending an elbow), and extension refers to increasing the angle between body parts (like straightening an elbow). Understanding these terms is essential in veterinary medicine, as they describe positions and movements relevant to animal anatomy and handling techniques.