Chapter 4: The Muscular System

bi-

Twice

-cele

hernia, tumor, swelling

dys-

bad, difficult or painful

fascia/o

fascia, fibrous band

fibr/o

fibrous tissue, fiber

-ia

abnormal condition, disease. Plural of -ium

-ic

pertaining to

kines/o, kinesi/o

movement

my/o

muscle

-plegia

paralysis, stroke

-rrhexis

rupture

tax/o

coordination, order

ten/o, dend/o, tendin/o

tendon, stretch out, extend, strain

ton/o

tone, stretching, tension

tri-

three

abduction

movement of a limb away from the midline

adduction

(physiology) moving of a body part toward the central axis of the body

adhesion

a band of fibrous tissue that holds structures together abnormally

ataxia

a lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movement

atonic

lacking normal muscle tone or strength

atrophy

weakness or wearing away of body tissues and structures caused by pathology or by disuse over a long period of time.

bradykinesia

extreme slowness in movement

carpal tunnel syndrome

swelling that creates pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel

chronic fatigue syndrome

a disorder of unknown cause that affects many body systems, with symptoms similar to those fibromyalgia syndrome.

circumduction

circular movement of a limb

contracture

the permanent tightening of fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or skin that occurs when normally elastic connective tissues are replaced with nonelastic fibrous tissues.

dorsiflexion

bends the foot upward at the ankle

dyskinesia

the distortion or impairment of voluntary movement such as in a tic or spasm

dystonia

a condition of abnormal muscle tone that causes the impairment of voluntary muscle movement

electromyography

a diagnostic test that measures the electrical activity within muscle fibers in response to nerve stimulation

epicondylitis

inflammation of the tissues around the elbow; golfer or tennis elbow

ergonomics

the study of the human factors that affect the design and operation of tools and the work environment

exercise physiologist

a specialist who works under the supervision of a physician to develop, implement, and coordinate exercise programs, and administer medical tests to promote physical fitness

fasciitis

inflammation of the fascia

fibromyalgia syndrome

a debilitating chronic condition characterized by fatigue, diffuse and or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, and a wide range of other symptoms

ganglion cyst

a harmless fluid-filled swelling that occurs most commonly on the outer surface of the wrist

heel spur

a calcium deposit in the plantar fascia nears its attachment to the calcaneus bone that can be one of the causes of plantar fasciitis

hemiparesis

slight paralysis or weakness affecting one side of the body

hemiplegia

total paralysis affecting only one side of the body

hernia

organ or tissue protruding through the wall or cavity that usually contains it

hyperkinesia

abnormally increased muscle function or activity

hypotonia

a condition in which there is diminished tone of the skeletal muscles

impingement syndrome

occurs when inflamed and swollen tendons are caught in the narrow space between the bones within the shoulder joint

insertion

the point of attachment of a muscle to the part that it moves

intermittent claudication

pain in the leg muscles that occurs during exercise and is relieved by rest

muscular dystrophy

the term used to describe a group of genetic diseases that are characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement

myasthenia gravis

chronic autoimmune disease that affects the neuromuscular junction and produces serious weakness of voluntary muscles

myocele

the herniation of muscle substance through a tear in the fascia surrounding it

myoclonus

sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles

myofascial release

a specialized soft tissue manipulation technique used to ease the pain of conditions such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, movement restrictions, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), and carpal tunnel syndrome

myolysis

the degeneration of muscle tissue

myorrhaphy

the surgical suturing of a muscle wound

neuromuscular

pertaining to the relationship between nerve and muscle

nocturnal myoclonus

jerking of the limbs that can occur normally as a person is falling asleep

oblique

slanted or at an angle

paralysis

the loss of sensation and voluntary muscle movements in a muscle through disease or injury to its nerve supply

paraplegia

paralysis of both legs and the lower part of the body

physiatrist

a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation with the focus on restoring function

plantar fasciitis

an inflammation of the plantar fascia on the sole of the foot

polymyositis

a muscle disease characterized by the simultaneous inflammation and weakening of voluntary muscles in many parts of the body

pronation

to turn downward or backward as with the hand or foot

quadriplegia

paralysis of all four extremities

range of motion testing

diagnostic procedure to evaluate joint mobility and muscle strength

sarcopenia

the loss of muscle mass, strength, and function that comes with aging

shin splint

a painful condition caused by the muscle tearing away from the tibia

singultus

myoclonus of the diaphragm that causes the characteristic hiccup sound with each spasm (hiccups)

spasmodic torticollis

a stiff neck due to spasmodic contraction of the neck muscles that pull the head toward the affected side

sphincter

circular ring of muscle that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening

sprain

an injury in which the ligaments holding bones together are stretched too far and tear.

tenodesis

surgical suturing of the end of a tendon to a bone

tenosynovitis

inflammation of the sheath surrounding a tendon

tenolysis

the release of a tendon from adhesions

tenorrhaphy

surgical suturing together of the divided ends of a tendon

transverse

horizontal

clon/o

violent action

compartment syndrome

involves the compression of nerves and blood vessels due to swelling within the enclosed space created by the fascia that separates groups of muscles in the arm or leg; this syndrome can be caused by trauma, tight bandages or casts, or repetitive activities such as running

innervation

the stimulation of a muscle by an impulse transmitted by a motor nerve

myoparesis

weakness or slight muscular paralysis

origin

where the muscle begins, and it is located nearest the midline of the body or on a less movable part of the skeleton. The origin is the less movable attachment

tendinopathy

the general term for irritation or degeneration of a tendon in any joint, for example in the rotator cuff

tenosynovitis

inflammation of a tendon sheath

tenotomy

surgical cutting of a tendon to provide release or allow lengthening

torticollis

also known as wryneck, is a stiff neck due to spasmodic contraction of the neck muscles that pull the head toward the affected side