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The Muscular System

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Term
Definition
flexion   closing the angle at a joint, such as bending at the knee or elbow  
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extension   opening the angle at a joint, such as straightening at the knee or elbow  
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abduction   movement away from the midline of the body, such as outward movement of the arm at the shoulder  
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adduction   movement toward the midline of the body, such as the return of a lifted arm to the body  
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rotation   turning of a body part on its own axis, such as turning of the forearm from the elbow  
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circumduction   circular movement from a central point, such as tracing a circle with an outstretched arm  
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pronation   turning downward, such as turning the palm of the hand downward  
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supination   turning upward, such as turning the palm of the hand upward  
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eversion   turning outward, such as turning the sole of the foot outward  
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inversion   turning inward, such as turning the sole of the foot inward  
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dorsiflexion   bending backward, such as moving the foot so that the toes point upward, away from the sole of the foot  
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plantar flexion   bending the sole of the foot, such as pointing the toes downward  
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acetylcholine (ACh)   A neurotransmitter that stimulates contraction of skeletal muscles  
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actin   One of the two contractile proteins in muscle cells; the other is myosin  
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agonist   A muscle that carries out a given movement (from Greek agon meaning "contest," "struggle")  
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antagonist   The muscle that opposes an agonist; it must relax when the agonist contracts  
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cardiac muscle   Involuntary muscle that makes up the heart wall  
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fascia   The fibrous sheath of connective tissue that covers a muscle; called deep fascia to differentiate it from the superficial fascia that underlies the skin (root: fasci/o) (plural: fasciae)  
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fascicle   A small bundle, as of muscle or nerve fibers  
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insertion   In a given movement, the point where a muscle is attached to a moving part of the skeleton  
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muscle   An organ that produces movement by contracting; also the tissue that composes such organs (roots: my/o, muscul/o)  
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myosin   One of the two contractile proteins in muscle cells; the other is actin  
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neuromuscular junction (NMJ)   The point of contact, or synapse, between a branch of a motor neuron and a muscle cell  
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origin   In a given movement, the point where a muscle is attached to a stable part of the skeleton  
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prime mover   The main muscle involved in a given movement  
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skeletal muscle   Voluntary muscle that moves the skeleton and maintains posture  
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smooth muscle   Involuntary muscle that makes up the wall of hollow organs, vessels, and ducts; visceral muscle  
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synergist   A muscle that assists a prime mover to produce a given movement  
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tendon   A fibrous band of connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone (roots: ten/o, tendin/o)  
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tonus   A state of steady, partial muscle contraction that maintains firmness; muscle tone (root: ton/o)  
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my/o   muscle  
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muscul/o   muscle  
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in/o   fiber  
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fasci/o   fascia  
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ten/o, tendin/o   tendon  
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ton/o   tone  
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erg/o   work  
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kin/o-, kine, kinesi/o, kinet/o   movement  
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amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)   A disease caused by motor neuron degeneration resulting in muscular weakness and atrophy; Lou Gehrig disease  
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chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)   A disease of unknown cause that involves persistent fatigue along with muscle and joint pain and other symptoms; may be virally induced  
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dermatomyositis   A disease of unknown origin involving muscular inflammation as well as dermatitis and skin rashes  
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fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS)   A disorder associated with widespread muscular aches and stiffness and having no known cause  
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muscular dystrophy   A group of hereditary muscular disorders marked by progressive weakness and muscular atrophy  
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myasthenia gravis (MG)   A disease characterized by progressive muscular weakness; an autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction  
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polymyositis   A disease of unknown cause involving muscular inflammation and weakness  
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repetitive strain injury (RSI)   Tissue damage caused by repeated motion, usually overuse of the arm or hand in occupational activities such as writing, typing, painting, or using hand tools; also called repetitive motion injury, cumulative trauma injury, overuse syndrome  
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sprain   Injury to a ligament caused by abnormal or excessive force at a joint, but without bone dislocation or fracture  
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strain   Trauma to a muscle because of overuse or excessive stretch; if severe, may involve muscular tearing, bleeding, separation of a muscle from its tendon, or tendon separation from a bone  
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tendinitis   Inflammation of a tendon, usually caused by injury or overuse; the shoulder, elbow, and hip are common sites; also spelled tendonitis  
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tenosynovitis   Inflammation of a tendon and its sheath  
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creatine kinase (CK)   An enzyme found in muscle tissue; the serum CK level increases in cases of muscle damage; creatine phosphokinase (CPK)  
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electromyography (EMG)   Study of the electrical activity of muscles during contraction  
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aponeurosis   A flat, white, sheet-like tendon that connects a muscle with the part that it moves (see abdominal aponeurosis)  
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creatine   A substance in muscle cells that stores energy for contraction  
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glycogen   A complex sugar that is stored for energy in muscles and in the liver  
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isometric   Pertaining to a muscle action in which the muscle tenses but does not shorten (literally: same measurement)  
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isotonic   Pertaining to a muscle action in which the muscle shortens to accomplish movement (literally: same tone)  
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kinesthesia   Awareness of movement; perception of the weight, direction, and degree of movement (-esthesia means "sensation")  
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lactic acid   An acid that accumulates in muscle cells functioning without enough oxygen (anaerobically), as in times of great physical exertion  
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motor unit   A single motor neuron and all of the muscle cells that its branches stimulate  
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myoglobin   A protein similar to hemoglobin that stores oxygen in muscle cells  
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asterixis   Rapid, jerky movements, especially in the hands, caused by intermittent loss of muscle tone  
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asthenia   Weakness (prefix a- meaning "without" with root sthen/o meaning "strength")  
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ataxia   Lack of muscle coordination (from root tax/o meaning "order, arrangement") (adjective: ataxic)  
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athetosis   A condition marked by slow, irregular, twisting movements, especially in the hands and fingers (adjective: athetotic)  
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atrophy   A wasting away; a decrease in the size of a tissue or organ, such as muscular wasting from disuse  
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avulsion   Forcible tearing away of a part  
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clonus   Alternating spasmodic contraction and relaxation in a muscle (adjective: clonic)  
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contracture   Permanent contraction of a muscle  
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fasciculation   Involuntary small contractions or twitching of muscle fiber groups (fasiculi)  
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fibromyositis   A nonspecific term for pain, tenderness, and stiffness in muscles and joints  
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fibrositis   Inflammation of fibrous connective tissue, especially the muscle fasciae; marked by pain and stiffness  
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restless legs syndrome (RLS)   Uneasiness, twitching, or restlessness in the legs that occurs after going to bed and often leading to insomnia; may be caused by poor circulation or drug side effects  
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rhabdomyolysis   An acute disease involving diffuse destruction of skeletal muscle cells (root rhabd/o means "rod," referring to the long, rod-like muscle cells)  
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rhabdomyoma   A benign tumor of skeletal muscle  
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rhabdomyosarcoma   A highly malignant tumor of skeletal muscle  
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rheumatism   A general term for inflammation, soreness, and stiffness of muscles associated with joint pain (adjectives: rheumatic, rheumatoid)  
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spasm   A sudden, involuntary muscle contraction; may be clonic (contraction alternating with relaxation) or tonic (sustained); a strong and painful spasm may be called a cramp (adjectives: spastic, spasmodic)  
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spasticity   Increased tone or contractions of muscles causing stiff and awkward movements  
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tetanus   An acute infectious disease caused by the anaerobic bacillus Clostridium tetani; marked by persistent painful spasms of voluntary muscles; lockjaw  
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tetany   A condition marked by spasms, cramps, and muscle twitching caused by a metabolic imbalance, such as low blood calcium resulting from underactivity of the parathyroid glands  
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torticollis   Spasmodic contraction of the neck muscles causing stiffness and twisting of the neck; wryneck  
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Chvostek sign   Spasm of facial muscles after a tap over the facial nerve; evidence of tetany  
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dynamometer   Instrument for measuring degree of muscle power; from root dynam/o meaning "force, energy;" also called ergometer  
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occupational therapy (OT)   Health profession concerned with physical rehabilitation and prevention of disability; exercise, massage, and other therapeutic methods are used to restore proper movement  
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physical therapy (PT)   Health profession concerned with physical rehabilitation and prevention of disability; exercise, massage, and other therapeutic methods are used to restore proper movement  
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rheumatology   The study and treatment of rheumatic diseases  
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Trousseau sign   Spasmodic contractions caused by pressing the nerve supplying a muscle; seen in tetany  
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antiinflammatory agent   Drug that reduces inflammation; includes steroids, such as cortisol, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs  
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COX-2 inhibitor   Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug that does not cause the stomach problems associated with other NSAIDs; inhibits the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 enzyme without affecting the COX-1 enzyme, a lack of which can cause stomach ulcers  
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muscle relaxant   A drug that reduces muscle tension; different forms may be used to relax muscles during surgery, to control spasticity, or to relieve musculoskeletal pain  
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nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)   Drug that reduces inflammation but is not a steroid; examples include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and other inhibitors of prostaglandins, naturally produced substances that promote inflammation  
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ACh   Acetylcholine  
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ALS   Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis  
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CFS   Chronic fatigue syndrome  
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C(P)K   Creatine (phospho)kinase  
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CTS   Carpal tunnel syndrome  
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EMG   Electromyography, electromyogram  
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FMS   Fibromyalgia syndrome  
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LLE   Left lower extremity  
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LUE   Left upper extremity  
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MG   Myasthenia gravis  
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MMT   Manual muscle test(ing)  
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NMJ   Neuromuscular junction  
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OT   Occupational therapy/therapist  
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PT   Physical therapy/therapist  
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RICE   Rest, ice, compression, elevation  
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RLE   Right lower extremity  
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RLS   Restless legs syndrome  
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ROM   Range of motion  
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RSI   Repetitive strain injury  
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RTC   Rotator cuff  
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RUE   Right upper extremity  
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SITS   Suspraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis (muscles)  
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