ALL CH 6

Flexion

Closing the angle at a joint (example: bending at the knee or elbow)

Extension

Opening the angle at a joint (example: straightening at the knee or elbow)

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body (example: outward movement of the arm at the shoulder)

Adduction

Movement toward the midline of the body (example: return of lifted arm to the body)

Rotation

Turning of a body part on its own axis (example: turning of the forearm from the elbow)

Circumduction

Circular movement from a central point (example: tracing a circle with an outstretched arm)

Pronation

Turning downward (example: turning the palm of the hand downward)

Supination

Turning upward (example: turning the palm of the hand upward)

Eversion

Turning outward (example: turning the sole of the foot outward)

Inversion

Turning inward (example: turning the sole of the foot inward)

Dorsiflexion

Bending backward (example: moving the foot so that the toes point upward, away from the sole of the foot)

Plantar flexion

Bending the sole of the foot (example: pointing the toes downward)

ACh

Acetylcholine

ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

CFS

Chronic fatigue syndrome

EMG

Electromyography, electromyogram

FMS

Fibromyalgia syndrome

MG

Myasthenia gravis

NMJ

Neuromuscular junction

OT

Occupational therapy/therapist

PT

Physical therapy/therapist

RICE

Rest, ice, compression, elevation

RLS

Restless legs syndrome

ROM

Range of motion

RSI

Repetitive strain injury

RTC

Rotator cuff

creatine

A substance in muscle cells that stores energy for contraction

glycogen

A complex sugar that is stored for energy in muscles and in the liver

isometric

Pertaining to a muscle action in which the muscle tenses but does not shorten (literally: same measurement)

isotonic

Pertaining to a muscle action in which the muscle shortens to accomplish movement (literally: same tone)

lactate

An organic compound that accumulates in muscle cells functioning without enough oxygen (anaerobically), as in times of great physical exertion

motor unit

A single motor neuron and all of the muscle cells that its branches stimulate

myoglobin

A protein similar to hemoglobin that stores oxygen in muscle cells

ataxia

Lack of muscle coordination (from root tax/o meaning "order, arrangement") (adjective: ataxic)

atrophy

A wasting away; a decrease in the size of a tissue or organ, such as muscular wasting from disuse

clonus

Alternating spasmodic contraction and relaxation in a muscle (adjective: clonic)

restless legs syndrome (RLS)

Uneasiness, twitching, or restlessness in the legs that occurs after going to bed and often leading to insomnia; may be caused by poor circulation or drug side effects

rheumatism

A general term for inflammation, soreness, and stiffness of muscles associated with joint pain (adjectives: rheumatic, rheumatoid)

spasm

A sudden, involuntary muscle contraction; may be clonic (contraction alternating with relaxation) or tonic (sustained); a strong and painful spasm may be called a cramp (adjectives: spastic, spasmodic)

spasticity

Increased tone or contractions of muscles causing stiff and awkward movements

tetanus

An acute infectious disease caused by the anaerobic bacillus Clostridium tetani; marked by persistent painful spasms of voluntary muscles; lockjaw

torticollis

Spasmodic contraction of the neck muscles causing stiffness and twisting of the neck; wryneck

dynamometer

Instrument for measuring degree of muscle power; from root dynam/o meaning "force, energy"; also called ergometer

occupational therapy (OT)

Health profession concerned with increasing function and preventing disability through work and play activities; the goal of occupational therapy is to increase the patient's independence and quality of daily life

physical therapy (PT)

Health profession concerned with physical rehabilitation and prevention of disability; exercise, massage, and other therapeutic methods are used to restore proper movement

rheumatology

The study and treatment of rheumatic diseases

anti-inflammatory agent

Drug that reduces inflammation; includes steroids, such as cortisol, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

muscle relaxant

A drug that reduces muscle tension; different forms may be used to relax muscles during surgery, to control spasticity, or to relieve musculoskeletal pain

acetylcholine (ACH)

A neurotransmitter that stimulates contraction of skeletal muscles

actin

One of the two contractile proteins in muscle cells; the other is myosin

agonist

A muscle that carries out a given movement (from Greek agon meaning "contest," "struggle")

antagonist

The muscle that opposes an agonist; it must relax when the agonist contracts

cardiac muscle

Involuntary muscle that makes up the heart wall

fascia

The fibrous sheath of connective tissue that covers a muscle; called deep fascia to differentiate it from the superficial fascia that underlies the skin (root: fasci/o) (plural: fasciae)

fascicle

A small bundle, as of muscle or nerve fibers

insertion

In a given movement, the point where a muscle is attached to a moving part of the skeleton

muscle

An organ that produces movement by contracting; also the tissue that composes such organs (roots: my/o, muscul/o)

myosin

One of the two contractile proteins in muscle cells; the other is actin

neuromuscular junction (NMJ)

The point of contact, or synapse, between a branch of a motor neuron and a muscle cell

origin

In a given movement, the point where a muscle is attached to a stable part of the skeleton

prime mover

The main muscle involved in a given movement

skeletal muscle

Voluntary muscle that moves the skeleton and maintains posture

smooth muscle

Involuntary muscle that makes up the wall of hollow organs, vessels, and ducts; visceral muscle

synergist

A muscle that assists a prime mover to produce a given movement

tendon

A fibrous band of connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone (roots: ten/o, tendin/o)

tonus

A state of steady, partial muscle contraction that maintains firmness; muscle tone (root: ton/o)

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

A disease caused by motor neuron degeneration resulting in muscular weakness and atrophy; Lou Gehrig disease

chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

A disease of unknown cause that involves persistent fatigue along with muscle and joint pain and other symptoms; may be virally induced

dermatomyositis

A disease of unknown origin involving muscular inflammation as well as dermatitis and skin rashes

fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS)

A disorder associated with widespread muscular aches and stiffness and having no known cause

muscular dystrophy

A group of hereditary muscular disorders marked by progressive weakness and muscular atrophy

myasthenia gravis (MG)

A disease characterized by progressive muscular weakness; an autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction

polymyositis

A disease of unknown cause involving muscular inflammation and weakness

repetitive strain injury (RSI)

Tissue damage caused by repeated motion, usually overuse of the arm or hand in occupational activities such as writing, typing, painting, or using hand tools; also called repetitive motion injury, cumulative trauma injury, overuse syndrome

sprain

Injury to a ligament caused by abnormal or excessive force at a joint, but without bone dislocation or fracture

strain

Trauma to a muscle because of overuse or excessive stretch; if severe, may involve muscular tearing, bleeding, separation of a muscle from its tendon, or tendon separation from a bone

tendinitis

Inflammation of a tendon, usually caused by injury or overuse; the shoulder, elbow, and hip are common sites; also spelled tendonitis

tenosynovitis

Inflammation of a tendon and its sheath

creatine kinase (CK)

An enzyme found in muscle tissue; the serum CK level increases in cases of muscle damage; creatine phosphokinase (CPK)

electromyography (EMG)

Study of the electrical activity of muscles during contraction

my/o

Medical root meaning muscle. Example: myositis (inflammation of muscle).

muscul/o

Medical root meaning muscle. Example: musculature (muscle arrangement in a part or the whole body).

in/o

Medical root meaning fiber. Example: inotropic (acting on (muscle) fibers).

fasci/o

Medical root meaning fascia. Example: fasciodesis (binding (suture) of a fascia to a tendon or other fascia).

ten/o, tendin/o

Medical roots meaning tendon. Example: tenostosis (ossification of a tendon).

ton/o

Medical root meaning tone. Example: cardiotonic (having a strengthening action on the heart muscle).

erg/o

Medical root meaning work. Example: ergonomics (study of the efficient use of energy during work).

kin/o-, kine, kinesi/o, kinet/o

Medical roots/prefixes meaning movement. Example: kinesis (movement).