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.