adductor muscle

adductor muscle

      any of the muscles that draw a part of the body toward its median line or toward the axis of an extremity (compare abductor muscle), particularly three powerful muscles of the human thigh—adductor longus, adductor brevis, and adductor magnus. Originating at the pubis and the ischium (lower portions of the pelvis—the hipbone), these ribbonlike muscles are attached along the femur (thighbone). Their primary action is adduction of the thigh, as in squeezing the thighs together; they also aid in rotation and flexion of the thigh.

      Other muscles named for this function include the adductor pollicis, which draws in and opposes the thumb, and the adductor hallucis, which acts on the great toe.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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

  • Adductor muscle — The term adductor muscle can have several meanings: * in a broad sense, any muscle that causes adduction can be called an adductor muscle. For example in biology, the muscle or muscles in the interior of a bivalve mollusk which serve to close the …   Wikipedia

  • Adductor muscle — Any muscle that pulls a body part toward the midline. For example, the adductor muscles of the legs pull the legs toward the midline of the body so the legs are closer together. The word “adductor” comes from the Latin prefix “ad meaning “toward” …   Medical dictionary

  • adductor muscle of carapace — Muscle attached to carapace for pulling it to the body (thorax) or connecting halves of bivalve shell (e.g. Conchostraca, Ostracoda, Leptostraca) or valves of cirriped capitulum for closure of them. In Cirripedia, any transverse muscles,… …   Crustacea glossary

  • adductor muscle — 1. Any muscle that adducts or bring parts into apposition. 2. (ARTHROPODA: Crustacea) In bivalves, muscles attached to the carapace that pull it to the body, or connect the carapace. a. In Barnacles, any transverse muscle, especially those… …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • adductor muscle — Large muscle of bivalve molluscs that is responsible for holding the two halves of the shell closed. Its unusual feature is its ability to maintain high tension with low energy expenditure by using a catch mechanism, and the high content of… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • adductor muscle scar — (ARTHROPODA: Crustacea) In Ostracoda, an impression of the adductor muscles on the valve interior, serving for closure of valves …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • adductor muscle scar pattern — (Class Ostracoda): Rather central pattern of scars (raised or depressed) indicating where central adductor muscles attach to valves; not always clearly visible [Cohen, Peterson, and Maddocks, in press] …   Crustacea glossary

  • adductor muscle great — musculus adductor magnus …   Medical dictionary

  • adductor muscle long — musculus adductor longus …   Medical dictionary

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