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Glite Dictionary
abductor muscle

abductor muscle

4.6
A muscle that moves a limb or other body part away from the body's middle
  • noun
  • /æbˈdʌktər ˈmʌsəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : músculo abductor
  • The physical therapist explained that the abductor muscle helps move the leg away from the body.

Examples

  • Strengthening the abductor muscle is crucial for athletes who rely on side-to-side motion.

  • Injuries to the abductor muscle can limit a person's ability to perform lateral movements.

  • On the other hand, R.A. Dickey was astounding from game one to 162, all while pitching with a torn abductor muscle.

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Synonyms

abductor
vsabductor muscle
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A muscle that moves a body part away from the middle of the body

is the shorter term used for the same muscle name

Antonyms

adductor muscle
  • Specialized
1 5.4

A muscle that pulls a body part toward the middle of the body

Surface Forms

abductor muscle singular
abductor muscles plural

Morphology

abductor + muscle

The meaning 'a muscle that moves a limb away from the midline' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'abductor' (one that moves a body part laterally or away) with 'muscle' (tissue that produces movement). This is a compositional anatomical term and parallels common cross-linguistic naming patterns, so a learner who knows both constituents will understand the MWE.

Etymology

Abductor muscle is named from a simple picture: abductor means 'pulling away' and muscle is the moving part. So it means a muscle that moves an arm or leg out to the side, away from the center of the body.