Final answer:
Moving a part of the body forward is described as protraction, which refers to the anterior motion of bones like the mandible or scapula, and contrasts with retraction, elevation and depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Moving a part of the body forward is known as protraction. This term refers to the anterior movement of the scapula or mandible in the horizontal plane. For instance, when you push your chin forward, you are protracting your mandible. This movement is opposed by retraction, which is the movement of a bone backward after protraction. Elevation and depression are different movements, with elevation referring to the upward movement of a bone, and depression being the downward movement.