Foundation year

Human muscular system

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY T. SANAA ABD ELHAMED

OBJECTIVES

After study this chapter, you should be able to:1. Describe the structure of a muscle.2. Label a diagram of superficial anterior and posterior

muscles.3. Compare the location and function of smooth, cardiac and

skeletal muscles.4. Identify and use roots pertaining to the muscular system.5. Describe the main disorders that affect muscles.6. Interpret abbreviations used in relation to muscles.7. Analyze case studies pertaining to muscles.

1. Muscle (n) an organ in the body, which contracts to make

part of the body move. The combining forms are my/o and

muscul/o.

2. Fibre (n) a structure in the body shaped like a thread. The

combining form is fibr/o.

MEDICAL TERMS RELATED TO MUSCULAR SYSTEM

3. Myalgia (n) pain in the muscles.

4. Myasthenia (n) means weakness of the muscles. The

suffix –asthenia means weakness.

5. Myonecrosis (n) is death of individual muscle fibers.

The suffix –necrosis means death of a tissues.

6. Myoparesis (n) weakness or slight paralysis of a muscle.

The combining form -paresis means paralysis.

7. Paralysis (n) is loss of voluntary muscle movements.

8. Hemiparasis (n) means a paralysis of one side of the

body. The prefix –hemi means half.

9. Tendon (n) is a cord or strap of

fibrous tissue that attaches a

muscle to bone. The combining

forms are ten/o, tend/o and

tendin/o.

10. Tenoplasty (n) surgical repair

of a tendon.

11. Spasm (n) means a sudden, violent or involuntary

contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.

13. Quadriplegia (n) or tetraplegia: paralysis affecting all

four limbs. The prefix quadri– or tetra- both mean four.

The suffix –plegia means stroke.

14. Paraplegia (n) means a paralysis of the legs and lower

part of the body, usually due to disease or injury of the

spinal cord. The prefix para- means beside or apart from.

15. Pronation (n) the act of rotating the hand so that the

palm is downwards or backwards. The opposite is

Supination, which means the act of rotating the hand so

that the hand is upwards or forwards.

16. To relax (v) means to become less tense. The opposite is

to contract; which means to be smaller and tighter.

Relaxation – noun. Relaxant – adjective.

17. Circumduction (n) a circular movement, such as that

made by a limb.

18. Depressor (n) a muscle that lowers a body part. The

prefix de- means down. The combining form press/o

means press.

Depression – noun. [different meaning in psychiatry]

19. The opposite is Elevator which means a muscle that

raises a body part. The combining forms lev/o and levat/o

mean to raise or to lift.

Elevation – noun.

20. Extension (n) stretching or straightening out of the joint.

The prefix ex- means away from. The combining form tens/o

means to stretch out or strain. Extensor (n) a muscle that

makes a joint become a straight.

21. Flexion (n) means bending of the joint so that the bones

forming it are angulated in relation to each other. Flexor (n)

muscle that makes a joint bend. The combining form flex/o

means to bend.

22. Abduction (n) mean movement away from the midline

of the body. The prefix ab- means away from. The opposite

is Adduction. The prefix ad- means towards or near. The

combining form duct/o means draw or carry.

23. Ataxia (n) lack of muscular

coordination or orderly placement.

The prefix a- means no or without.

The combining form tax/o means

coordination. The suffix –ia means

a condition or state.

24. Atonia (n) lack of normal muscle tone. The combining

form ton/o means tone or tension. The opposite is Tonia.

25. Atrophy (n) means wasting away. The suffix –trophy

means nutrition, development and growth.