abductor muscle

abductor muscle

      any of the muscles that cause movement of a limb away from the midplane of the body or away from a neighbouring part or limb (compare adductor muscle), as in raising the arms to the side (effected by the deltoideus muscle) or spreading the fingers or toes. In man certain muscles of the hands (hand) and feet are named for performing this function. In the hand, the abductor digiti minimi manus acts upon the little finger, and both the abductor pollicis longus and abductor pollicis brevis act upon the thumb. The corresponding foot muscles are the abductor digiti minimi pedis and the abductor hallucis, which act on the little and great toes, respectively.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Abductor muscle — Any muscle used to pull a body part away from the midline of the body. For example, the abductor muscles of the legs spread the legs away from the midline and away from one another. The word “abductor” comes from the Latin prefix “ab “ meaning… …   Medical dictionary

  • abductor muscle — noun a muscle that draws a body part away from the median line • Syn: ↑abductor • Derivationally related forms: ↑abduct (for: ↑abductor) • Hypernyms: ↑skeletal muscle, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • abductor muscle — The muscle that draws an appendage or part away from an axis of the body; see adductor muscle …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • abductor muscle of great toe — abductor hallucis muscle musculus abductor hallucis …   Medical dictionary

  • abductor muscle of little finger — musculus abductor digiti minimi manus …   Medical dictionary

  • abductor muscle of little toe — musculus abductor digiti minimi pedis …   Medical dictionary

  • abductor muscle of thumb long — musculus abductor pollicis longus …   Medical dictionary

  • abductor muscle of thumb short — musculus abductor pollicis brevis …   Medical dictionary

  • muscle — muscleless, adj. muscly, adj. /mus euhl/, n., v., muscled, muscling, adj. n. 1. a tissue composed of cells or fibers, the contraction of which produces movement in the body. 2. an organ, composed of muscle tissue, that contracts to produce a… …   Universalium

  • abductor — noun 1. someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom) • Syn: ↑kidnapper, ↑kidnaper, ↑snatcher • Derivationally related forms: ↑snatch (for: ↑snatcher), ↑abduct, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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