Chapter 10: Muscular System — Vocabulary List

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and key terms for the muscular system.

my/o-, myo-

Muscle (e.g., myofibril, myoblast)

sarc/o-

Flesh, muscle (e.g., sarcomere, sarcolemma)

fasci-

Bundle, band (e.g., fascicle, fascia)

epi- / peri- / endo-

Upon / around / within (e.g., epimysium, perimysium, endomysium)

-mysium

Muscle sheath (e.g., perimysium)

-pennate

Feather (e.g., unipennate, bipennate)

fusi-

Spindle (e.g., fusiform)

rect/o

Straight (e.g., rectus abdominis)

brevis / longus

Short / long (e.g., fibularis brevis, extensor digitorum longus)

magnus / major / maximus

Large (e.g., gluteus maximus)

minor / minimus

Smaller (e.g., pectoralis minor)

orbicul-

Small circle (e.g., orbicularis oculi)

-oid

Resembling (e.g., rhomboid, deltoid)

brachi/o

Arm (e.g., brachialis, brachioradialis)

cleid/o, clavi-

Clavicle (e.g., sternocleidomastoid)

glute/o

Buttock (e.g., gluteus maximus)

gastro-, -cnemius

Belly, leg (e.g., gastrocnemius)

supra- / infra- / sub-

Above / below / under (e.g., supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis)

-tomy

Cutting (e.g., fasciotomy)

ex-/flex-

Straighten / bend (e.g., extensor, flexor)

abduct / adduct

Away / toward (e.g., abductor, adductor)

bucc/o

Cheek (e.g., buccinator)

zygo-

Yoke, joined (e.g., zygomaticus)

pteryg/o

Wing (e.g., pterygoid)

sartor-

Tailor (e.g., sartorius)

gracil-

Slender (e.g., gracilis)

Skeletal / smooth / cardiac muscle

Voluntary, attached to bones / involuntary in organs / involuntary in heart

Epimysium

Connective tissue around a whole muscle

Perimysium

Connective tissue around a fascicle

Endomysium

Connective tissue around a muscle fiber

Fascicle

Bundle of muscle fibers

Myofibril

Contractile rod within a muscle fiber

Sarcomere

Basic functional unit of contraction

Myosin / actin

Thick / thin myofilament proteins

Fascia

Connective tissue separating muscles / compartments

Compartment syndrome

Pressure buildup in a fascia-bound compartment that cuts off circulation

Fasciotomy

Surgical cutting of fascia to relieve pressure

Satellite cell

Cell that repairs muscle fibers

Origin / insertion

Stationary end / movable end of a muscle

Tendon / aponeurosis

Cord / sheet-like attachment of muscle

Agonist

Prime mover

Antagonist

Opposes the movement

Synergist

Assists the agonist

Fixator

Stabilizes a bone or joint so the agonist can act

Intrinsic / extrinsic

Entirely within a structure / originates outside it

Pennate

Fascicles angled to a tendon (uni-, bi-, multi-)

Sphincter

Circular muscle around an opening

Linea alba

Midline band where abdominal aponeuroses meet

Rectus sheath

Aponeuroses enclosing rectus abdominis

Diastasis recti

Separation of rectus abdominis along linea alba

Rotator cuff (SITS)

Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis

Iliotibial tract

Band of fascia lata + gluteus maximus/TFL tendons

Quadriceps tendon

Joins quadriceps to patella

Hamstrings

Biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus

Achilles tendon

Calcaneal tendon of gastrocnemius and soleus

Galea aponeurotica

Aponeurosis joining frontal and occipital bellies