serratus posterior inferior

9.6

A thin lower back muscle that helps hold the lower ribs steady when you breathe

noun
/ˈsɛrətəs pəˈstɪər ˌɪnˈfɪrɪr/

Specialized

: serrato posterior inferior

The serratus posterior inferior helps stabilize the lower ribs against the action of the diaphragm.

Examples

Injury to the serratus posterior inferior can affect lower rib movement during breathing.
During the dissection, the serratus posterior inferior was clearly visible beneath the latissimus dorsi.
The serratus posterior inferior assists with rib movement.
Many athletes strengthen their serratus posterior inferior muscles.
In anatomy class, we learned that the serratus posterior inferior plays a crucial role in stabilizing the lower ribs.
After the surgery, he was relieved to find out that his serratus posterior inferior was undamaged and functioning well.
The doctor explained how the serratus posterior inferior helps counteract diaphragm movement to facilitate breathing.

Surface Forms

serratus posterior inferior singular

serratus posterior inferiors plural

Morphology

serratus + posterior + inferior

The term is a straightforward compositional anatomical name: 'serratus' (saw-toothed muscle) + 'posterior' (rear) + 'inferior' (lower) together describe a saw-edged muscle located at the lower back. This follows standard Latin-based anatomical naming conventions common across languages, so a learner who knows the constituent meanings can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Serratus posterior inferior comes from Latin words that make a clear picture: serratus means 'saw' because the muscle edge looks like the teeth of a saw, posterior means 'back', and inferior means 'lower'. So the name pictures a saw-like muscle at the lower back that helps hold the lower ribs steady when you breathe.