extensor muscle
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: * A skeletal muscle whose contraction causes the straightening or extension of a limb or other body part at a joint. It is the antagonist to a flexor muscle.
Usage
The term "extensor muscle" is used in anatomical, medical, and general biological contexts to describe muscles responsible for opening a joint angle. It is often specified by the joint or body part it acts upon.
Examples
- The extensor muscle in the forearm, known as the extensor carpi radialis, is crucial for straightening the wrist.
- To recover from the injury, she focused on strengthening the extensor muscles in her back.
- The quadriceps group is the primary extensor muscle of the knee joint.
Advanced Usage
- Functional Anatomy: In kinesiology, the balance between extensor and flexor muscles is critical for joint stability and coordinated movement.
- Clinical Context: Weakness in specific extensor muscles, such as the extensor digitorum, can lead to conditions like "drop foot" or "wrist drop."
Variants and Related Words
- Extensor (noun): A common shortened form of "extensor muscle."
- The extensor of the thumb was strained.
- Extension (noun): The movement produced by an extensor muscle.
- Extend (verb): The action performed by an extensor muscle.
Synonyms
- Antagonist (to a flexor) (in a specific functional context)
- Anatomical terms for specific extensors (e.g., quadriceps, triceps brachii)
Antonyms
- Flexor muscle: A skeletal muscle whose contraction bends or flexes a joint.
Noun
- a skeletal muscle whose contraction extends or stretches a body part