MedTerm Chapter 4

Tendons

a narrow band of nonelastic, dense, fibrous connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.

Fascia

A band of connective tissue that covers, supports, and separates muscles.

Muscle fibers

long, slender cells that make up muscles

Myofascial

means pertaining to muscle tissue and fascia

aponeurosis

a sheet-like fibrous connective tissue, which resembles a flattened tendon that serves as a fascia to bind muscles together or as a means of connecting muscle to bone

skeletal, smooth, and myocardial

Three types of muscles

Skeletal muscles

are attached to the bones of the skeleton and make body motions possible

voluntary muscles and striated muscles

skeletal muscles

involuntary muscles,visceral muscles and unstriated muscles

smooth muscles

Smooth muscles

located in the walls of internal organs such as the digestive tract, blood vessels, and ducts leading from glands

Myocardial muscles

also known as myocardium or cardiac muscle, form the muscular walls of the heart

Muscle innervation

is the stimulation of a muscle by an impulse transmitted by a motor nerve. Motor nerves enable the brain to stimulate a muscle to contract. When the stimulation stops, the muscle relaxes. This information controls the body's voluntary muscular contraction

Neuromuscular

means pertaining to the relationship between a nerve and muscle

antagonistic

refers to working in opposition to each other

Contraction

the tightening of a muscle. As the muscle contracts, it becomes shorter and thicker, causing the belly (center) of the muscle to enlarge.

Relaxation

occurs when a muscle returns to its original form. As the muscle relaxes, it becomes longer and thinner, and the belly is no longer enlarged.

Abduction

the movement of a limb (arm or leg) away from the midline of the body

Adduction

the movement of a limb (arm or leg) toward the midline of the body

Flexion

means decreasing the angle between two bones by bending a limb at a joint

Extension

means increasing the angle between two bones or the straightening out of a limb

Hyperextension

the extreme or overextension of a limb or body part beyond its normal limit.

Elevation

is the act of raising or lifting a body part

Depression

is the act of lowering a body part.

Rotation

is a circular movement around an axis such as the shoulder joint

Circumduction

is the circular movement at the far end of a limb.

Rotator muscle

turns a body part on its axis

Rotator cuff

the group of muscles and their tendons that hold the head of the humerus securely in place as it rotates within the shoulder joint

Supination

is the act of rotating the arm or the leg so that the palm of the hand or sole of the foot is turned forward or upward. An easy way to remember this is to think of carrying a bowl of soup.

Pronation

is the act of rotating the arm or leg so that the palm of the hand or sole of the foot is turned downward or backward

Dorsiflexion

is the movement that bends the foot upward at the ankle. Pointing the toes and foot upward decreases the angle between the top of the foot and the front of the leg

plantar flexion

is the movement that bends the foot downward at the ankle.

Origin

is where the muscle begins, and it is located nearest the midline of the body or on a less movable part of the skeleton

insertion

is where the muscle ends by attaching to a bone or tendon. In contrast to the origin, the insertion is the more movable attachment, and it is the farthest point from the midline of the body.

sternocleidomastoid muscle

for example, helps bend the neck and rotate the head

Lateralis

means toward the side

Medialis

means toward the midline

Oblique

means slanted or at an angle.

Rectus

means in straight alignment with the vertical axis of the body

sphincter

is a ring-like muscle that tightly constricts the opening of a passageway.

Transverse

means in a crosswise direction

frontalis

occipitofrontalis, muscle is in the forehead. It raises and lowers the eyebrows.

temporalis

muscle moves the lower jaw up and back to close the mouth.

masseter

muscle, which is one of the strongest in the body, moves the lower jaw up to close the mouth when chewing.

pectoralis major

makes up the bulk of the chest muscles

external oblique and internal oblique muscles

found in the abdomen.

rectus abdominis

helps flex the trunk, assists in breathing, and supports the spine.

transverse abdominis

is located on the side of the abdomen. This core muscle is engaged when a person laughs or coughs.

deltoid

forms the muscular cap of the shoulder

trapezius

muscle moves the head and shoulder blade.

biceps brachii

located in the anterior upper arm, flexes the elbow.

triceps brachii

located in the posterior upper arm, extends the elbow.

rectus femoris

extends the leg at the knee.

quadriceps femoris

is made up of four muscles, including the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis, which flex and extend the leg at the knee.

hamstring group

is involved in knee flexion and hip extension.

gastrocnemius

is the calf muscle that flexes the knee and bends the foot downward.

polymyoisitis

Which term means a disease characterized by the simultaneous inflammation of voluntary muscles in many parts of the body?

tenolysis

the release of a tendon from adhesions

hyperkinesia

abnormally increased muscle function or activity

pronation

Which term describes the act of rotating the arm so that the palm of the hand is turned downward?

myorrhaphy

Which term means the surgical suturing of a muscle?

fasciitis

inflammation of a fascia

Atrophy

After being in a cast for 6 weeks, Jenny's arm showed signs of muscle ____