Page 379 - Fundamentals of anatomy physiology

366 Unit 2 Support and Movement

Table 11–1 Muscle Terminology

11 Terms Indicating Specific Terms Indicating Position, Direction, Terms Indicating Structural Terms Indicating Actions
Regions of the Body or Fascicle Organization Characteristics of the Muscle General
Abdominal (abdomen) Anterior (front) Nature of Origin Abductor (movement away)
Ancon (elbow) External (on the outside) Biceps (two heads) Adductor (movement toward)
Auricular (ear) Extrinsic (outside the structure) Triceps (three heads) Depressor (lowering movement)
Brachial (arm) Inferior (below) Quadriceps (four heads) Extensor (straightening movement)
Capitis (head) Internal (away from the surface) Flexor (bending movement)
Carpi (wrist) Intrinsic (within the structure) Shape Levator (raising movement)
Cervicis (neck) Lateral (on the side) Deltoid (triangle) Pronator (turning into prone position)
Coccygeal (coccyx) Medial (middle) Orbicularis (circle) Supinator (turning into supine position)
Costal (rib) Oblique (slanting) Pectinate (comblike) Tensor (tensing movement)
Cutaneous (skin) Posterior (back) Piriformis (pear-shaped)
Femoris (thigh) Profundus (deep) Platysma (flat plate) Specific
Glossal (tongue) Rectus (straight) Pyramidal (pyramid) Buccinator (trumpeter)
Hallux (great toe) Superficial (toward the surface) Rhomboid (parallelogram) Risorius (laugher)
Ilium (groin) Superior (toward the head) Serratus (serrated) Sartorius (like a tailor)
Inguinal (groin) Transverse (crosswise) Splenius (bandage)
Lumbar (lumbar region) Teres (round and long)
Nasalis (nose) Trapezius (trapezoid)
Nuchal (back of neck)
Ocular (eye) Other Striking Features
Oris (mouth) Alba (white)
Palpebra (eyelid) Brevis (short)
Pollex (thumb) Gracilis (slender)
Popliteal (posterior to knee) Latae (wide)
Psoas (loin) Latissimus (widest)
Radial (forearm) Longissimus (longest)
Scapular (scapula) Longus (long)
Temporal (temple) Magnus (large)
Thoracic (thorax) Major (larger)
Tibial (tibia; shin) Maximus (largest)
Ulnar (ulna) Minimus (smallest)
Minor (smaller)
Vastus (great)

Many terms refer to muscle size. Long muscles are called always include other clues as to the appearance or location of
longus (long) or longissimus (longest). Teres muscles are the muscle. For example, the extensor carpi radialis longus muscle
both long and round. Short muscles are called brevis. Large is a long muscle along the radial (lateral) border of the fore-
ones are called magnus (big), major (bigger), or maximus arm. When it contracts, its primary function is extension at the
(biggest). Small ones are called minor (smaller) or minimus carpus (wrist).
(smallest).
A few muscles are named after the specific movements as-
Action sociated with special occupations or habits. The sartorius (sar-
TOR-e. -us) muscle, the longest in the body, is active when you
Many muscles are named flexor, extensor, pronator, abductor, and cross your legs. Before sewing machines were invented, a tailor
so on. These are such common actions that the names almost would sit on the floor cross-legged. The name of this muscle
was derived from sartor, the Latin word for “tailor.”