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musculus

musculus

9.9
A Latin word meaning little mouse that explains the origin of the English word muscle
  • noun
  • /ˈmʌskjʊləs/
translation icon : musculito
  • In scientific contexts, the word musculus refers to a small mouse, highlighting its connection to muscle terminology.
  • musculus (Mus)
  • mouse (musculus)
  • house mouse (Mus musculus)

Examples

  • The genus name musculus is derived from the Latin word for 'little mouse', linking it to the anatomy of various muscles.

  • The reservoir is the common house mouse, Mus musculus, but other rodents can become infected and transmit infection to humans.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Rodents (rats and mice, Mus musculus) pose threats to species primarily through nest depredation.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The Latin term musculus is often used in etymology to explain the origin of the word 'muscle'.

Compounds

Balaenoptera musculus
  • Specialized
8.5

A very large blue-grey whale that eats small sea animals and lives in oceans worldwide

Mus musculus
  • Specialized
8.2

A small brown-grey mouse that lives near people and is used in labs

A small hand muscle that moves the little finger away from the other fingers

A small foot muscle that moves the little toe away from the other toes

8.6

A foot muscle that moves the big toe away from the other toes and bends it

7.4

A muscle in the thumb that moves the thumb away from the hand

8.4

A short muscle in the inner thigh that pulls the leg toward the body

9.9

A foot muscle that pulls the big toe toward the other toes

7.5

A long muscle on the inner thigh that pulls the leg toward the body

7.9

Muscles between the ribs that help you breathe

A flat muscle on the outside of the belly that helps twist the body and tighten the stomach area

musculus pectoralis
  • Specialized
5.1

A large muscle on each side of the chest that helps move the upper arm

4.9

A large chest muscle that pulls the arm toward the body and turns it inward

8.2

A thin muscle under the larger chest muscle that pulls the shoulder blade down or lifts the ribs

5.8

A large muscle at the front of the thigh that straightens the lower leg at the knee

8.9

A back muscle that pulls the shoulder blade toward the spine

7.4

A large inner thigh muscle that pulls the thigh toward the other leg and moves it backward at the hip

musculus anconeus
  • Specialized
9.6

A small muscle by the elbow that helps straighten the forearm and turn the palm downward

9.9

A small muscle from the back of the upper arm that helps move and steady the elbow joint

9.9

A small knee muscle that lifts the joint lining when you straighten your leg

5.8

A muscle in the upper arm that bends the elbow and turns the forearm so the palm faces up

7.2

A muscle at the back of the thigh that bends the knee and turns the lower leg outward

musculus buccinator
  • Specialized
9.6

A cheek muscle that flattens the cheek and pulls back the corner of the mouth

musculus deltoideus
  • Specialized
6.2

A large triangular muscle on the shoulder that lifts and moves the arm

9.9

A small back muscle that pulls the shoulder blade toward the spine and slightly up

musculus sartorius
  • Specialized
8.2

A long thigh muscle that helps you cross one leg over the other

8.9

A ring of muscle in the eye that makes the pupil smaller in bright light

9.6

A ring of muscle at the end of the stomach that controls food entering the small intestine

8.4

A muscle around the tube that carries urine that you can tighten to hold urine

9.8

A ring of muscle around the bladder opening that controls urine flow

A thick neck muscle on each side that turns the head the other way and helps bend the neck

musculus temporalis
  • Specialized
7.4

A large muscle on the side of the head that lifts the lower jaw to close the mouth

musculus teres major
  • Specialized
8.1

A muscle in the upper arm that pulls the arm back and turns it inward toward the body

musculus scalenus
  • Specialized
9.8

A neck muscle that connects neck bones to the first two ribs and helps breathing and head movement

8.1

A muscle at the side of the chest that lifts the shoulder blade and helps raise the ribs when breathing

9.9

A back muscle that pulls the ribs down and back

7.9

A ring of muscle around the anus that controls bowel movements

A ring of muscle around the anus that you use to stop or let out poop

A ring of muscle inside the anus that keeps stool in without thinking

A muscle that controls the flow of bile into the small intestine

A muscle that controls the opening of the main tube from the pancreas to the small intestine

musculus teres minor
  • Specialized
8.4

A small round shoulder muscle that pulls the arm toward the body and turns it outward

musculus tibialis
  • Specialized
8.3

A lower leg muscle that helps lift and move the foot

A deep flat muscle in the belly wall that helps keep organs in place and support the body

musculus trapezius
  • Specialized
7.4

A large flat muscle on the upper back and shoulder that helps move the shoulder and neck

5.9

A large muscle at the back of the upper arm that straightens the elbow

Surface Forms

musculus singular
musculi plural

Etymology

Musculus literally means 'little mouse' in Latin because people once thought a moving muscle under the skin looked like a small mouse, and that image is why the English word muscle has its name.