Definition

1. Noun:
   • A device used to press a part down or aside: A simple instrument, often a flat blade, used by a doctor to hold down a part of the body (like the tongue) for examination.
   • A nerve that reduces activity: Any nerve whose function is to decrease the activity or tension of the organ or body part it serves.
   • A muscle that draws a part down: Any skeletal muscle whose primary action is to pull a body part downward.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor used a tongue depressor to get a clear view of the patient's throat.
  • The vagus nerve acts as a cardiac depressor, slowing the heart rate.
  • The depressor anguli oris is a facial muscle that pulls the corner of the mouth downward.

Advanced Usage

• "Depressor effect": A physiological effect that results in a decrease in function or activity.
  • The medication has a strong depressor effect on the central nervous system.
• "Depressor response": A specific reaction, such as a drop in blood pressure, triggered by a stimulus.
  • The experiment measured the animal's depressor response to the chemical.

Variants and Related Words

• Depress (verb): To press down, lower, or reduce in amount, force, or value.
  • The lever depresses the mechanism.
  • Bad news can depress the stock market.
• Depression (noun): The act of pressing down; a sunken area; a state of low mood or economic activity.
• Depressive (adjective): Tending to lower or depress; relating to clinical depression.

Synonyms

• Suppressor: Something that holds back or stops an action or process.
• Inhibitor: A substance or agent that slows or prevents a chemical reaction or biological process.

Related Phrases

• Depressor nerve: A specific nerve that causes a decrease in blood pressure when stimulated.
  • Stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve lowers blood pressure.
• Blood pressure depressor: An agent or substance that lowers blood pressure.
  • This drug is a potent blood pressure depressor.

Noun

1. a device used by physician to press a part down or aside
2. any nerve whose activity tends to reduce the activity or tone of the body part it serves
3. any skeletal muscle that draws a body part down