| musculus ciliaris | <anatomy> The smooth muscle of the ciliary body; it consists of circular fibres (Muller's muscle) and radiating fibres (meridional fibres, or Brucke's muscle); action, in contracting, its diameter is reduced (like a sphincter), reducing tensile (stretching) forces on lens, allowing it to thicken for near vision (accommodation). Synonym: musculus ciliaris, Bowman's muscle, ciliary ligament. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| musculus cleidoepitrochlearis | The anterior portion of the deltoid, arising from the clavicle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus cleidomastoideus | The portion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle passing between the clavicle and the mastoid process. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus cleido-occipitalis | The portion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle between the clavicle and the superior nuchal line. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus coccygeus | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, spine of ischium and sacrospinous ligament; insertion, sides of lower part of sacrum and upper part of coccyx; action, assists in support of pelvic floor, especially when intra-abdominal pressures increase; nerve supply, third and fourth sacral. Synonym: musculus coccygeus, coccygeal muscle, musculus ischiococcygeus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus complexus | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, transverse processes of five or six upper thoracic and articular processes of four lower cervical vertebrae; insertion, occipital bone between superior and inferior nuchal lines; action, rotates head and draws it backward; nerve supply, dorsal primary rami of cervical spinal nerves. Synonym: musculus semispinalis capitis, musculus complexus, semispinal muscle of head. (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 compressor naris | See: nasalis muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus compressor urethrae | Origin, ramus of pubis; insertion, with fellow in median raphe behind and in front of urethra; action, constricts membranous urethra; nerve supply, pudendal. Synonym: musculus sphincter urethrae, external urethral sphincter, Guthrie's muscle, musculus compressor urethrae, musculus constrictor urethrae, musculus sphincter urethrae membranaceae, sphincter muscle of urethra, Wilson's muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus coracobrachialis | <anatomy> Relating to the coracoid process of the scapula and the arm. <muscle> Origin, coracoid process of scapula; insertion, middle of medial border of humerus; action, adducts and flexes the arm; resists downward dislocation of shoulder joint; nerve supply, musculocutaneous. See: coracobrachial bursa. Synonym: musculus coracobrachialis, Casser's perforated muscle, coracobrachial muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus corrugator cutis ani | Smooth muscle fibres radiating from the anal opening superficial to the external sphincter. Synonym: musculus corrugator cutis ani. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus corrugator supercilii | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, from orbital portion of musculus orbicularis oculi and nasal prominence; insertion, skin of eyebrow; action, draws medial end of eyebrow downward and wrinkles forehead vertically; nerve supply, facial. Synonym: musculus corrugator supercilii, Coiter's muscle, corrugator muscle, wrinkler muscle of eyebrow. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus cremaster | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, from internal oblique muscle and inguinal ligament; insertion, cremasteric fascia (spermatic cord); action, raises testicle; nerve supply, genital branch of genitofemoral; in the male the muscle envelops the spermatic cord and testis, in the female, the round ligament of the uterus. See: cremasteric fascia. Synonym: musculus cremaster, Riolan's muscle. Origin: G. Kremaster, a suspender, in pl. The muscles by which the testicles are retracted, fr. Kremannymi, to hang (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus cricoarytenoideus lateralis | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, upper margin of arch of cricoid cartilage; insertion, muscular process of arytenoid; action, adducts vocal folds (narrows rima glottidis); nerve supply, recurrent laryngeal. Synonym: musculus cricoarytenoideus lateralis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| musculus cricoarytenoideus posterior | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, depression on posterior surface of lamina of cricoid; insertion, muscular process of arytenoid; action, abducts vocal folds, widening rima glottidis as for taking a breath; nerve supply, recurrent laryngeal. Synonym: musculus cricoarytenoideus posterior. (05 Mar 2000) |