Foundation year Human muscular system

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.

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.