latissimus dorsi
1
7.0
- noun
- /ləˈtɪsɪməs ˈdɔrsaɪ/
- Specialized
:
dorsal ancho
- The chest muscle (pectoralis major) pulls the upper arms down and across the body; the back muscles (latissimus dorsi) pull the upper arms back and down.
- latissimus dorsi flap
- latissimus dorsi muscle
- latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous
Examples
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The muscle action comes through the latissimus dorsi muscle, through the shoulder complex, and down through a fairly straight arm, then into the wrist to the stick that is pushing against the ground.
Academic text (2012) -
The larger global muscles, such as the latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major, originate a considerable distance from the underlying joint, are composed of long fibers, and are less capable of providing glenohumeral joint stability.
Academic text (2004) -
A bent-over row is a weight training exercise that targets the latissimus dorsi muscle.
Blog text (16) -
The scapula is red, the AS muscle is orange, the latissimus dorsi is blue, and the pectoralis is green.
Blog text (15) -
Patients in our series required less postoperative pain medication than patients in whom rectus or latissimus dorsi muscle flaps were used for the same purpose.
Academic text (2005) -
The latissimus dorsi is essential for movements like pulling and lifting the arms.
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During the exercise, you should feel the strain in your latissimus dorsi as you pull the weights down.
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Strengthening the latissimus dorsi can improve your performance in swimming and rowing.
Synonyms
3
9.9
A large flat muscle on the side of the upper back
Surface Forms
Morphology
latissimus + dorsi
This is a Latin anatomical name: 'latissimus' is the superlative of latus (broadest/widest) and 'dorsi' relates to dorsum (the back), so a learner who knew both constituents could infer something like "the broadest thing of the back," suggesting a large back structure. Because it is a technical term and the jump from "broadest of the back" to the specific sense "large flat muscle that moves the shoulder/arm" requires anatomical knowledge, the meaning is only partially predictable.
Etymology
Latissimus dorsi comes from Latin words latissimus ('broadest') and dorsi ('of the back'). It names the large, flat muscle that spreads across the lower back, so the phrase literally means the 'broadest muscle of the back' and helps explain why this muscle moves the shoulder and arm.