Veterinary Medical Terminology (Lesson 3: Musculoskeletal System)

Course Start: 8/13/25, Course End: 10/03/25

muscle origin

The place where a muscle begins, or originates, and is the more fixed attachment or the end of the muscle closest to the midline.

muscle insertion

The place where a muscle ends, or inserts, and is the more movable end or portion of the muscle farthest from the midline

abductor

muscle that moves a limb away from the midline of the body

adductor

A muscle that draws a limb or other body part toward the midline of the body.

flexor

muscle that bends a limb at its joint or decreases the joint angle

extensor

muscle that straightens a limb at its joint or increases the joint angle

levator

muscle that raises or elevates a body part or structure

depressor

muscle that lowers or descends a body part or structure

rotator

muscle that turns a body part on its axis

pector

“chest”

pectoral muscles

located on the chest

epaxial muscles

muscles located above the pelvic axis

epi-

prefix for “above” (Greek)

axis

line about which rotation occurs

intercostal muscles

group of muscles between ribs (external, internal, & innermost intercostal)

inter-

prefix for “between”

cost/o

combining form for “rib”

infraspinatus muscles

Located beneath the spine of the scapula. Part of rotator cuff.External rotation.

infra-

prefix for “beneath”’ or “below”

supraspinatus muscles

Located above the spine of the scapula. Assists in shoulder abduction.

supra-

prefix for “above”

inferior

“below” or “deep”. Muscle location within a group.

medius

“middle”. Muscle location within a group.

superior

“above”. Muscle location within a group.

externus

Term indicating depth of a muscle: “outer”

internus

Term indicating depth of a muscle: “inner”

orbicularis

muscles surrounding another structure

fascia

A band or sheet of connective tissue that supports and surrounds muscles and organs in the body, providing structure and stability.

fasci/o, fasc/i

combining forms for “fascia”

tendon

A flexible, narrow band of fibrous tissue that connects muscles to bones, enabling movement and support.

tend/o, tendin/o, ten/o

combining forms for “tendon”

Which way do they go?

“rectus”

means “straight”. Rectus muscles align with the vertical axis of the body.”

Which way do they go?

“oblique”

means “slanted”. Oblique muscles slant outward away from the midline.

Which way do they go?

“transverse”

means” crosswise”. Transverse muscles form crosswise to the midline.

Which way do they go?

“sphincter”

means “tight band”. Sphincter muscles are ringlike and constrict the opening of a passageway.

How many parts are there?

“biceps”

muscle- generally have two divisions (heads)

How many parts are there?

“triceps”

have three divisions (heads)

How many parts are there?

“quadriceps”

generally have four divisions (heads)

How many parts are there?

“azygous”

not paired

How many parts are there?

“a-”

prefix for “without”

How many parts are there?

“zygot/o”

joined

linea alba

a fibrous band of connective tissue on the ventral abdominal wall that is the median attachment of the abdominal muscles

Muscle size:

minimus

“small” muscle

Muscle size:

maximus or vastus

“large” muscle

Muscle size:

latissimus

“broad” muscle

Muscle size:

longissimus or gracilis

“narrow/slender” muscle

Muscle size:

major

“larger” muscle/parts, respectively.

Muscle size:

minor

“smaller” muscle/parts, respectively.

How’s the muscle shaped?

deltoid

muscles that look like the Greek letter delta (Δ)

How’s the muscle shaped?

quadratus

muscles that are square or four-sided

How’s the muscle shaped?

rhomboideus

muscles that are diamond-shaped. (Rhomboid is a four-sided figure that may have unequal adjoining sides but equal opposite sides.)

How’s the muscle shaped?

serratus

muscles that are saw-toothed. (Serratus is Latin for notched.)

How’s the muscle shaped?

sartorius muscle

(one muscle of the thigh area) is named because this muscle flexes and adducts the leg of a human to that position assumed by a tailor sitting cross-legged at work

How’s the muscle shaped?

gemellus

named because it is a twinned muscle (gemellus means twin)

How’s the muscle shaped?

gastrocnemius muscle

the leg muscle that resembles the shape of the stomach (gastr/o = stomach, kneme = leg)

Tests: Muscular System

electromyography

process of recording the electrical activity of the muscle cells near the recording electrodes; abbreviated EMG.

Tests: Muscular System

electromyogram

is the record of the strength of muscle contraction caused by electrical stimulation

Pathology: Muscular System

adhesion

band of fibers that hold structures together in an abnormal fashion

Pathology: Muscular System

ataxia

lack of voluntary control of muscle movement; “wobbliness” (tax/o is the combining form for coordination or order.)

Pathology: Muscular System

atonic

lacking muscle tone

Pathology: Muscular System

atrophy

decrease in size, or complete wasting of an organ, tissue, or cell

Pathology: Muscular System

fibroma, or fibroid

tumor composed of fully developed connective tissue

Pathology: Muscular System

hernia

protrusion of a body part through tissues that normally contain it

Pathology: Muscular System

laxity

looseness

Pathology: Muscular System

myoma

benign tumor of muscle

Pathology: Muscular System

myopathy

abnormal condition or disease of muscle

Pathology: Muscular System

myositis

inflammation of voluntary muscles

Pathology: Muscular System

tendinitis

inflammation of the band of fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone (tendon)

Pathology: Muscular System

tetany

muscle spasms or twitching

Procedures: Muscular System

myectomy

surgical removal of muscle or part of a muscle

Procedures: Muscular System

myotomy

surgical incision into a muscle

Procedures: Muscular System

tenectomy

surgical removal of a part of a tendon

Procedures: Muscular System

tenotomy

surgical division of a tendon

Abbreviations Related to the Skeletal and Muscular Systems

DJD

Degenerative Joint Disease (abbreviation)

Abbreviations Related to the Skeletal and Muscular Systems

EMG

abbreviation for Electromyography

Abbreviations Related to the Skeletal and Muscular Systems

fx

abbreviation for Fracture

Abbreviations Related to the Skeletal and Muscular Systems

IVDD

abbreviation for Intervertibral Disc Disease

Abbreviations Related to the Skeletal and Muscular Systems

P1, P2, P3

abbreviations for Phalanx 1, Phalanx 2, & Phalanx 3

Abbreviations Related to the Skeletal and Muscular Systems

ROM

abbreviation for Range of Motion