| psoas margin | In abdominal radiography, the appearance of the fat stripe delineating the lateral margin of the psoas muscle shadow; shows a normal retroperitoneum when visible. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| psoas minor muscle | <anatomy> An inconstant muscle, absent in about 40%; origin, bodies of twelfth thoracic and first lumbar vertebrae and disk between them; insertion, iliopubic eminence via iliopectineal arch (iliac fascia); action, assists in flexion of lumbar spine; nerve supply, lumbar plexus. Synonym: musculus psoas minor, smaller psoas muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| psoas muscles | A powerful flexor of the thigh at the hip joint (psoas major) and a weak flexor of the trunk and lumbar spinal column (psoas minor). Psoas is derived from the greek "psoa", the plural meaning "muscles of the loin". It is a common site of infection manifesting as abscess (psoas abscess). The psoas muscles and their fibres are also used frequently in experiments in muscle physiology. (12 Dec 1998) |
| smaller psoas muscle | <anatomy> An inconstant muscle, absent in about 40%; origin, bodies of twelfth thoracic and first lumbar vertebrae and disk between them; insertion, iliopubic eminence via iliopectineal arch (iliac fascia); action, assists in flexion of lumbar spine; nerve supply, lumbar plexus. Synonym: musculus psoas minor, smaller psoas muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |