The Muscular System

Bi-

Twice, double, two

-cele

Hernia, tumor, swelling

Dys-

Bad, difficult, or painful

Fasci/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, tend/o, tedin/o

tendon, stretch out, extend, strain

Ton/o

tone, stretching, tension

Tri-

Three

Abduction

The movement of a limb away from the midline of the body

Adduction

The movement of a limb toward the midline of the body

Adhesion

A band of fibrous tissue that holds structures together abnormally

Ataxia

Lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movement

Atonic

Lacking normal muscle tone or strength

Atrophy

Weakness or wearing away of body tissues and structures

Bradykinesia

Extreme slowness in movement

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel are chronically overused and become inflamed and swollen

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A disorder of unknown cause that affects many body systems

Circumduction

The circular movement at the far end 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 (scarring)

Dorsiflexion

The movement that bend the foot upward at the ankle

Dyskinesia

The distortion or impairment of voluntary movement resulting in fragmented or jerky movements

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 surrounding the 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 a fascia

Fibromyalgia

A debilitating chronic condition characterized by fatigue; diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain

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 near it 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

The protrusion of a part of a structure through the tissues normally containing 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

Where the muscle ends by attaching to a bone or tendon

Intermittent Claudication

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

Muscular Dystrophy

Progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement, without affecting the nervous system

Myasthenia Gravis

A 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

The quick, 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, etc.

Myolysis

The degeneration of muscle tissue

Myoparesis

A weakness or slight muscular paralysis

Myorrhaphy

The surgical suturing of a muscle

Neuromuscular

Pertaining to the relationship between a nerve and muscle

Oblique

Slanted or at an angle

Origin

Where the muscle begins, and it is located nearest the midline of the body

Paralysis

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

Paraplegia

The 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

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

The act of rotating the arm/leg so that the palm of the hand or sole of the foot is turned downward or backward

Quadriplegia

A paralysis of all four extremities

Sarcopenia

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

Shin Splint

A painful condition caused by the tibialis anterior muscle tearing away from the tibia

Singultus

Myoclonus of the diaphragm that causes the characteristic hiccup sound with each spasm

Sphincter

A ring-like muscle that tightly constricts the opening of a passageway

Sprain

Injury to a joint

Tenodesis

The surgical suturing of the end of a tendon to a bone

Tenolysis

The release of a tendon from adhesions

Tenorrhaphy

The surgical suturing together of the divided ends of a tendon

Tenosynovitis

An inflammation of the sheath surrounding a tendon

Tenotomy

A surgical incision into a tendon

Torticollis

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

Transverse

In a crosswire direction