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

-plegia

paralysis, stroke

-rrhexis

rupture

tax/o

coordination, order

ten/o, tend/o, tendin/o

tendon, stretch out, extend, strain

ton/o

tone, stretching, tension

tri-

three

abduction

movement of a limb away from the midline of the body

adduction

movement of a limb toward the midline of the body

adhesion

band of fibrous tissue that holds structures together abnormally

ataxia

the 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

inflammation and swelling of the tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel, which then create pressure on the median nerve

chronic fatigue syndrome

a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and may be made worse by physical or mental activity

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 non-elastic fibrous tissues

dorsiflexion

movement that bends the foot upward at the ankle

dyskinesia

distortion or impairment of voluntary movement resulting in fragmented or jerky motions

dystonia

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

electromyography

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

exercise physiologist

a specialist who works under a physician's supervision 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; 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 near its attachment to the heel bone

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 motor function or activity; also known as hyperactivity

hypotonia

a condition of diminished tone of the skeletal muscles

impingement syndrome

inflammed and swollen tendons are caught in the narrow space between the bones within the shoulder joint

insertion

the point 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

a group of more than 30 genetic diseases that are characterized by 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 (protrusion) 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, myofascial pain syndrome, movement restrictions, temporomandibular joint disorders, and carpal tunnel syndrome

myolysis

the degeneration of muscular tissue

myoparesis

weakness or slight muscular paralysis

myorrhaphy

surgical suturing of a muscle

neuromuscular

pertaining to the relationship between a nerve and muscle

oblique

slanted or at an angle

origin

the point where the muscle begins, located nearest the midline of the body or on a less movable part of the skeleton

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

inflammation of the plantar fascia on the sole of the foot, causing foot or heel pain when walking or running

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 or the leg so the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot is turned downward or backward

quadriplegia

paralysis of all four extremities

sarcopenia

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

shin splint

a painful condition caused by the tibialis anterior muscle tearing away from the tibia (shin bone)

singultus

myoclonus of the diaphragm that causes the characteristic hiccup sound with each spasm; also known as hiccups

sphincter

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

sprain

an injury to a joint, such as ankle, knee, or wrist, which usually occurs when a ligament is wrenched or torn

tenodesis

the 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; also known as wryneck

transverse

in a crosswise direction

muscle fibers

the long, slender cells that make up muscles. each muscle consists of a group of fibers that are bound together by connective tissue

fascia

a band of connective tissue that envelops, separates, or binds together muscles or groups of muscles (plural, fasciae or fascias). fascia is flexible to allow muscle movements

myofascial

means pertaining to muscle tissue and fascia

tendons

a narrow band of nonelastic, dense, fibrous connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone

patellar tendon

attaches muscles to the bottom of the patella

achilles tendon

attaches the gastrocnemius muscle

aponeurosis

a sheet-like fibrous connective tissue resembling a flattened tendon that connects muscles together or to a bone

skeletal muscles

attached to the bones of the skeleton and make body motions possible. also known as voluntary muscles and striated muscles

smooth muscles

located in the walls of internal organs such as the digestive tract, blood vessels, and ducts leading from glands. their function is to move and control the flow of fluids through these structures. also known as involuntary muscles, unstriated muscles and visceral muscles

visceral

means relating to the internal organs

myocardial muscles

also known as myocardium or cardiac muscle, form the muscular walls of the heart

muscle innervation

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

antagonistic

working in opposition to each other

contraction

the tightening of a muscle

relaxation

occurs when a muscle returns to its original form

abductor

a muscle that moves a body part away from the midline

adductor

a muscle that moves a body part toward the midline

flexion

means decreasing the angle between two bones by bending a limb at a joint

flexor muscle

bends a limb at a joint

extension

means increasing the angle between two bones or the straightening out of a limb

extensor muscle

straightens a limb at a joint

hyperextension

the extreme or overextension of a limb or body part beyond its normal limit

elevation

the act of raising or lifting a body part

levator anguli oris

the muscles of the face that raise the corners of the mouth into a smile

levator

a muscle that raises a body part

depression

the act of lowering a body part