Muscular System Vocabulary and Concepts

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering Latin/Greek roots, prefixes, suffixes, muscle types, structural components, and anatomical muscle names based on the Muscular System unit test notes.

-al

Root or suffix meaning like.

-ation

Suffix denoting a noun form.

nuc-

Root meaning middle or center.

-my-

Root meaning muscle.

-fibr-

Root meaning fiber.

-sarc-

Root meaning flesh.

-mer-

Root meaning part.

-cardi-

Root meaning heart.

-co-

Prefix meaning with or together.

anter-

Root meaning front.

stern-

Root meaning chest.

mast-

Root meaning breast.

-oid

Suffix meaning like form appearance.

rect-

Root meaning straight or correct.

ex-

Prefix meaning out.

bi-

Prefix meaning two.

tri-

Prefix meaning three.

brachi-

Root meaning arm.

flex-

Root meaning bend.

quadr-

Root meaning four.

med-

Root meaning middle.

lat-

Root meaning side.

ad-

Prefix meaning give, add, or toward.

gastr-

Root meaning stomach.

brev-

Root meaning short.

dors-

Root meaning back.

glut-

Root meaning butt.

semi-

Prefix meaning half or part.

post-

Prefix meaning back or behind.

roto-

Root meaning rotate.

circum-

Prefix meaning around.

duct-

Root meaning lead or draw.

ab-

Prefix meaning take away.

de-

Prefix meaning take, down.

Cardiac Muscle

A muscle type featuring 1-2 nuclei per cell, under involuntary control, striated, with a branched structure located in the heart.

Skeletal Muscle

A muscle type featuring many nuclei per cell, under voluntary control, striated, with a parallel structure located attached to body/bone.

Smooth Muscle

Also known as visceral muscle, featuring 1 nucleus per cell, under involuntary control, without striations, with a tapered structure located in the digestive system.

Z line

The boundary structure defining the outer limits of a sarcomere unit.

M line

The central structural line situated in the middle of a sarcomere.

Actin

The thin myofilament component in muscle cell micro-structure.

Myosin

The thick myofilament component containing cross bridges within a sarcomere.

Sarcomere

The functional segment of a myofibril bounded by Z lines and containing actin and myosin filaments.

Tendon

A connective structure that attaches muscle to bone.

Ligament

A tissue structure that connects bone to bone across a joint.

Sternocleidomastoid

Anterior neck muscle named using stern-, cleido-, and mast- roots.

Trapezius

Large upper back and neck muscle visible from both anterior and posterior anatomical views.

Pectoralis Major

Primary upper chest muscle located above the pectoralis minor.

Pectoralis Minor

Chest muscle located underneath the pectoralis major.

Biceps Brachii

Two-headed arm flexor muscle located on the anterior upper arm.

Triceps Brachii

Three-headed arm extensor muscle located on the posterior upper arm.

Serratus Anterior

Anterior muscle situated along the side of the rib cage.

External Obliques

Superficial abdominal muscle located on the lateral sides of the abdomen.

Rectus Abdominis

Straight, vertical abdominal muscle extending along the front of the abdomen.

Latissimus Dorsi

Broad posterior muscle covering the middle and lower back.

Rhomboid Minor

Posterior back muscle positioned above the rhomboid major.

Rhomboid Major

Posterior back muscle positioned below the rhomboid minor.

Gastrocnemius

Major superficial calf muscle in the posterior lower leg.

Soleus

Lower leg muscle located deep to or adjacent to the gastrocnemius.

Tibialis Anterior

Anterior lower leg muscle located along the tibia/shin.

Peroneus Longus

Long lateral muscle of the lower leg.

Peroneus Brevis

Short lateral muscle of the lower leg.