| musculus adductor magnus | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, ischial tuberosity and ischiopubic ramus; insertion, linea aspera and adductor tubercle of femur; action, adducts and extends thigh; nerve supply, obturator and sciatic. Synonym: musculus adductor magnus, great adductor muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| musculus adductor minimus | <anatomy> A small flat muscle constituting the upper portion of the adductor magnus, insertion, the space above linea aspera. Synonym: musculus adductor minimus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus adductor pollicis | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, by two heads, the transverse head from the shaft of the third metacarpal and the oblique head from the front of the base of the second metacarpal, the trapezoid and capitate bones; insertion, medial side of base of proximal phalanx of thumb; action, adducts thumb; nerve supply, ulnar. Synonym: musculus adductor pollicis, adductor muscle of thumb. (05 Mar 2000) |
| short adductor muscle | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, superior ramus of pubis; insertion, upper third of medial lip of linea aspera; action, adducts thigh; nerve supply, obturator. Synonym: musculus adductor brevis, short adductor muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| long adductor muscle | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, symphysis and crest of pubis; insertion, middle third of medial lip of linea aspera of femur; action, adducts, flexes and laterally rotates the thigh; nerve supply, obturator. Synonym: musculus adductor longus, long adductor muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominocardiac reflex | Mechanical stimulation (usually distention) of abdominal viscera causing changes (usually a slowing) in the heart rate or the occurrence of extrasystoles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Abrams' heart reflex | A contraction of the myocardium when the skin of the precordial region is irritated. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accommodation reflex | Increased convexity of the lens, due to contraction of the ciliary muscle and relaxation of the suspensory ligament, to maintain a distinct retinal image. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Achilles reflex | A contraction of the calf muscles when the tendo calcaneus is sharply struck. Synonym: ankle jerk, ankle reflex, tendo Achillis reflex, triceps surae reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acousticopalpebral reflex | A form of the wink reflex in which there is a contraction, sometimes very slight, of the orbicularis palpebrarum muscle when a sudden noise is made close to the ear; it is absent in labyrinthine disease with total deafness. Synonym: acousticopalpebral reflex, auropalpebral reflex, cochleo-orbicular reflex, startle reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acquired reflex | A reflex that is gradually developed by training and association through the frequent repetition of a definite stimulus. See: conditioning. Synonym: acquired reflex, behaviour reflex, trained reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acromial reflex | Contraction of the biceps muscle caused by a tap on the acromion or the coracoid process. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute reflex bone atrophy | Atrophy of bones, commonly of the carpal or tarsal bones, following a slight injury such as a sprain. See: causalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Synonym: acute reflex bone atrophy, posttraumatic osteoporosis, Sudeck's syndrome. Origin: L. English sweat (05 Mar 2000) |
| anal reflex | Contraction of the internal sphincter gripping the finger passed into the rectum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ankle reflex | A contraction of the calf muscles when the tendo calcaneus is sharply struck. Synonym: ankle jerk, ankle reflex, tendo Achillis reflex, triceps surae reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |