| minor planets | Small solar system planetary bodies including asteroids. most asteroids are found within the gap lying between the orbits of mars and jupiter. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| minor salivary gland | A small gland which produces saliva. There are numerous minor salivary glands distributed within the mouth and palate. (12 Dec 1998) |
| minor salivary glands | The smaller, largely mucous-secreting, exocrine gland's of the oral cavity, consisting of the labial, buccal, molar, lingual, and palatine gland's. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minor sublingual ducts | From 8 to 20 small ducts of the sublingual salivary gland that open into the mouth on the surface of the sublingual fold; a few join the submandibular ducts. Synonym: ductus sublinguales minores, Rivinus' ducts, Walther's canals, Walther's ducts. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minor surgery | See: minor operation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minor tranquilliser | A functional category of drugs useful in the treatment of anxiety and able to reduce anxiety at doses which do not cause excessive sedation (e.g., diazepam). Synonym: anxiolytic, minor tranquilliser. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus complexus minor | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, from transverse processes of upper thoracic and transverse and articular processes of lower and middle cervical vertebrae; insertion, into mastoid process; action, keeps head erect, draws it backward or to one side; nerve supply, dorsal primary rami of cervical spinal nerves. Synonym: musculus longissimus capitis, musculus complexus minor, musculus trachelomastoideus, musculus transversalis capitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus helicis minor | <anatomy> A band of oblique fibres covering the crus of the helix of the auricle. Synonym: musculus helicis minor, smaller muscle of helix. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus iliacus minor | <anatomy, muscle> The fibres of the iliacus arising from the anterior inferior iliac spine and inserted into the iliofemoral ligament, sometimes distinctly separate from the rest of the muscle. Synonym: musculus iliacus minor, musculus iliocapsularis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus pectoralis minor | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, third to fifth ribs at the costochondral articulations; insertion, tip of coracoid process of scapula; action, draws down scapula or raises ribs; nerve supply, medial pectoral nerve. Synonym: musculus pectoralis minor, smaller pectoral muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus psoas minor | <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) |
| musculus rectus capitis anticus minor | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, transverse process and lateral mass of atlas; insertion, basilar process of occipital bone; action, turns and inclines head forward; nerve supply, ventral primary ramus of first and second cervical spinal nerve. Synonym: musculus rectus capitis anterior, anterior rectus muscle of head, musculus rectus capitis anticus minor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus rectus capitis posterior minor | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, from posterior tubercle of atlas; insertion, medial third of inferior nuchal line of occipital bone; action, rotates head and draws it backward; nerve supply, dorsal branch of first cervical (suboccipital). See: suboccipital muscles. Synonym: musculus rectus capitis posterior minor, musculus rectus capitis posticus minor, smaller posterior rectus muscle of head. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus rectus capitis posticus minor | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, from posterior tubercle of atlas; insertion, medial third of inferior nuchal line of occipital bone; action, rotates head and draws it backward; nerve supply, dorsal branch of first cervical (suboccipital). See: suboccipital muscles. Synonym: musculus rectus capitis posterior minor, musculus rectus capitis posticus minor, smaller posterior rectus muscle of head. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus rhomboideus minor | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, spinous processes of sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae; insertion, medial margin of scapula above spine; action, draws scapula toward vertebral column and slightly upward; nerve supply, dorsal nerve of scapula. Synonym: musculus rhomboideus minor, lesser rhomboid muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |