Download Muscle Terms Terms Indicating Direction Relative to Body Axes

Muscle Terms
Terms Indicating Direction
Relative to Body Axes:
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Anterior (front)
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Externus (superficial)
Extrinsic (outside)
Inferioris (inferior)
Internus (deep, internal)
Intrinsic (inside)
Lateralis (lateral)
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Medialis/medius (medial,
middle)
Obliquus (oblique)
Posterior (back)
Profundus (deep)
Rectus (straight, parallel)
Superficialis (superficial)
Superioris (superior)
Transversus (transverse)
Terms Indicating Direction of
Fibers:
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Rectus (straight)
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Oblique (diagonal)
Transverse (across)
Circularis (circular)
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Terms Indicating Specific
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Regions:
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Abdominus (abdomen)
Anconeus (elbow)
Auricularis (auricle of the
ear)
Brachialis (brachium)
Capitis (head)
Carpi (wrist)
Cervicis (neck)
Cleido/clavius (clavicle)
Coccygeus (coccyx)
Costalis (ribs)
Cutaneous (skin)
Femoris (femur)
Genio- (chin)
Glosso/glossal (tongue)
Hallucis (great toe)
Ilio- (ilium)
Inguinal (groin)
Lumborum (lumbar region)
Nasalis (nose)
Nuchal (back of the neck)
Oculo- (eye)
Oris (mouth)
Palpebrae (eyelid)
Pollicis (thumb)
Popliteus (behind the knee)
Psoas (loin)
Radialis (radius)
Scapularis (scapula)
Temporalis (temples)
Thoracis (thoracic region)
Tibialis (tibia)
Ulnaris (ulna)
Uro- (urinary)
Terms Indicating Structural
Characteristics:
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Origin:
Biceps (two heads)
Triceps (three heads)
Muscle Terms
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Quadriceps (four heads)
Terms Indicating Shape, Size,
and Color:
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Alba (white)
Brevis (short)
Deltoid (triangle)
Gracilis (slender)
Lata (wide)
Latissimus (widest)
Longus (long)
Magnus (large)
Major (larger)
Maximus (largest)
Minimus (smallest)
Minor (smaller)
Orbicularis (circle)
Pectinate (comblike)
Piriformis (pear-shaped)
Platys- (flat)
Pyramidal (pyramid)
Rhomboideus (rhomboid)
Serratus (serrated)
Splenius (bandage)
Teres (long and round)
Trapezius (trapezoid)
Vastus (huge or great)
Terms Indicating Body
Location:
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Brachii (arm)
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Gluteus (buttocks)
Infra (below)
Lateralis (lateral)
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Pectoralis (chest)
Sub (underneath)
Supra (above)
Terms Indicating Action:
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Abduction: moves away from
the midline
Adduction: moves closer to
the midline
Depressor
Extension: increases the
angle of a joint
Flexion: decreases the angle
of a joint
Levator
Pronation: turns the palm of
the hand down
Rotation: moves a bone
around its longitudinal axis
Supination: turns the palm of
the hand up
Tensor
Dorsiflexion: elevates the
foot
Plantar flexion: lowers the
foot, pointing the toes