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From OpenStax College / Rice University

Naming Skeletal Muscles Quiz

12 questions biology Grades 9-12

The question sheet

Reveal any answer as you study
  1. According to the text, which language roots did early anatomists use to name skeletal muscles?

    • German and French
    • English and Greek
    • Latin and Greek
    • Arabic and Latin
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Latin and Greek

    Source evidence

    PDF page 432: The Greeks and Romans conducted the first studies done on the human body in Western culture. The educated class of subsequent societies studied Latin and Greek, and therefore the early pioneers of anatomy continued to apply Latin and Greek terminology or roots when they named the skeletal muscles. The large number of muscles in the body and unfamiliar words can make learning the names of the muscles in the body seem daunting, but understanding the etymology can help. Etymology is the study of how the root of a particular word entered a language and how the use of the word evolved over time. Taking the time to learn the root of the words is crucial to understanding the vocabulary of anatomy and physiology. When you understand the names of muscles it will help you remember where the muscles are located and what they do (Figure 11.5, Figure 11.6, and Table 11.2). Pronunciation of words and terms will take a bit of time to master, but after you have some basic information; the correct names and pronunciations will become easier.

  2. What is the study of how a word's root entered a language and evolved over time called?

    • Anatomy
    • Terminology
    • Physiology
    • Etymology
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Etymology

    Source evidence

    PDF page 432: The Greeks and Romans conducted the first studies done on the human body in Western culture. The educated class of subsequent societies studied Latin and Greek, and therefore the early pioneers of anatomy continued to apply Latin and Greek terminology or roots when they named the skeletal muscles. The large number of muscles in the body and unfamiliar words can make learning the names of the muscles in the body seem daunting, but understanding the etymology can help. Etymology is the study of how the root of a particular word entered a language and how the use of the word evolved over time. Taking the time to learn the root of the words is crucial to understanding the vocabulary of anatomy and physiology. When you understand the names of muscles it will help you remember where the muscles are located and what they do (Figure 11.5, Figure 11.6, and Table 11.2). Pronunciation of words and terms will take a bit of time to master, but after you have some basic information; the correct names and pronunciations will become easier.

  3. Understanding muscle names helps you remember what about the muscles?

    • Their location and what they do
    • Their embryonic origin
    • Their blood supply
    • Their color and weight
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Their location and what they do

    Source evidence

    PDF page 432: The Greeks and Romans conducted the first studies done on the human body in Western culture. The educated class of subsequent societies studied Latin and Greek, and therefore the early pioneers of anatomy continued to apply Latin and Greek terminology or roots when they named the skeletal muscles. The large number of muscles in the body and unfamiliar words can make learning the names of the muscles in the body seem daunting, but understanding the etymology can help. Etymology is the study of how the root of a particular word entered a language and how the use of the word evolved over time. Taking the time to learn the root of the words is crucial to understanding the vocabulary of anatomy and physiology. When you understand the names of muscles it will help you remember where the muscles are located and what they do (Figure 11.5, Figure 11.6, and Table 11.2). Pronunciation of words and terms will take a bit of time to master, but after you have some basic information; the correct names and pronunciations will become easier.

  4. On the muscular system overview figure, which muscles are shown on the right side of the body?

    • Superficial muscles
    • Posterior muscles
    • Leg muscles
    • Deep muscles
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Superficial muscles

    Source evidence

    PDF page 433: Figure 11.5 Overview of the Muscular System On the anterior and posterior views of the muscular system

    PDF page 433: above, superficial muscles (those at the surface) are shown on the right side of the body while deep muscles (those

  5. What does the root 'brevis' mean?

    • Short
    • Many
    • Long
    • Straight
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Short

    Source evidence

    PDF page 434: Latin or Greek Example Mnemonic Device Translation ad to; toward ADvance toward your goal ab away from n/a sub under SUBmarines move under water. ductor something that moves A conDUCTOR makes a train move. If you are antisocial, you are against engaging in social anti against activities. epi on top of n/a apo to the side of n/a longissimus longest “Longissimus” is longer than the word “long.” longus long long brevis short brief maximus large max medius medium “Medius” and “medium” both begin with “med.” minimus tiny; little mini rectus straight To RECTify a situation is to straighten it out. multi many If something is MULTIcolored, it has many colors. uni one A UNIcorn has one horn. bi/di two If a ring is DIcast, it is made of two metals. tri three TRIple the amount of money is three times as much. quad four QUADruplets are four children born at one birth. externus outside EXternal internus inside INternal

  6. What does the root 'rectus' mean?

    • Angled
    • Straight
    • Round
    • Short
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Straight

    Source evidence

    PDF page 434: Latin or Greek Example Mnemonic Device Translation ad to; toward ADvance toward your goal ab away from n/a sub under SUBmarines move under water. ductor something that moves A conDUCTOR makes a train move. If you are antisocial, you are against engaging in social anti against activities. epi on top of n/a apo to the side of n/a longissimus longest “Longissimus” is longer than the word “long.” longus long long brevis short brief maximus large max medius medium “Medius” and “medium” both begin with “med.” minimus tiny; little mini rectus straight To RECTify a situation is to straighten it out. multi many If something is MULTIcolored, it has many colors. uni one A UNIcorn has one horn. bi/di two If a ring is DIcast, it is made of two metals. tri three TRIple the amount of money is three times as much. quad four QUADruplets are four children born at one birth. externus outside EXternal internus inside INternal

  7. The prefix 'tri' indicates which number?

    • One
    • Four
    • Two
    • Three
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Three

    Source evidence

    PDF page 434: Latin or Greek Example Mnemonic Device Translation ad to; toward ADvance toward your goal ab away from n/a sub under SUBmarines move under water. ductor something that moves A conDUCTOR makes a train move. If you are antisocial, you are against engaging in social anti against activities. epi on top of n/a apo to the side of n/a longissimus longest “Longissimus” is longer than the word “long.” longus long long brevis short brief maximus large max medius medium “Medius” and “medium” both begin with “med.” minimus tiny; little mini rectus straight To RECTify a situation is to straighten it out. multi many If something is MULTIcolored, it has many colors. uni one A UNIcorn has one horn. bi/di two If a ring is DIcast, it is made of two metals. tri three TRIple the amount of money is three times as much. quad four QUADruplets are four children born at one birth. externus outside EXternal internus inside INternal

  8. What does the root 'ab' mean?

    • Away from
    • Under
    • Toward
    • On top of
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Away from

    Source evidence

    PDF page 434: Latin or Greek Example Mnemonic Device Translation ad to; toward ADvance toward your goal ab away from n/a sub under SUBmarines move under water. ductor something that moves A conDUCTOR makes a train move. If you are antisocial, you are against engaging in social anti against activities. epi on top of n/a apo to the side of n/a longissimus longest “Longissimus” is longer than the word “long.” longus long long brevis short brief maximus large max medius medium “Medius” and “medium” both begin with “med.” minimus tiny; little mini rectus straight To RECTify a situation is to straighten it out. multi many If something is MULTIcolored, it has many colors. uni one A UNIcorn has one horn. bi/di two If a ring is DIcast, it is made of two metals. tri three TRIple the amount of money is three times as much. quad four QUADruplets are four children born at one birth. externus outside EXternal internus inside INternal

  9. Which muscle name reflects the muscle's distinctive shape?

    • Brevis
    • Gluteus maximus
    • Biceps brachii
    • Orbicularis
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Orbicularis

    Source evidence

    PDF page 435: Anatomists name the skeletal muscles according to a number of criteria, each of which describes the muscle in some way. These include naming the muscle after its shape, its size compared to other muscles in the area, its location in the body or the location of its attachments to the skeleton, how many origins it has, or its action. The skeletal muscle’s anatomical location or its relationship to a particular bone often determines its name. For example, the frontalis muscle is located on top of the frontal bone of the skull. Similarly, the shapes of some muscles are very distinctive and the names, such as orbicularis, reflect the shape. For the buttocks, the size of the muscles influences the names: gluteus maximus (largest), gluteus medius (medium), and the gluteus minimus (smallest). Names were given to indicate length— brevis (short), longus (long)—and to identify position relative to the midline: lateralis (to the outside away from the midline), and medialis (toward the midline). The direction of the muscle fibers and fascicles are used to describe muscles relative to the midline, such as the rectus (straight) abdominis, or the oblique (at an angle) muscles of the abdomen. Some muscle names indicate the number of muscles in a group. One example of this is the quadriceps, a group of four muscles located on the anterior (front) thigh. Other muscle names can provide information as to how many origins a particular muscle has, such as the biceps brachii. The prefix bi indicates that the muscle has two origins and tri indicates three origins. The location of a muscle’s attachment can also appear in its name. When the name of a muscle is based on the attachments, the origin is always named first. For instance, the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum (sterno) and clavicle (cleido), and it inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The last feature by which to name a muscle is its action. When muscles are named for the movement they produce, one can find action words in their name. Some examples are flexor (decreases the angle at the joint), extensor (increases the angle at the joint), abductor (moves the bone away from the midline), or adductor (moves the bone toward the midline).

  10. Which gluteal muscle is the largest according to its name?

    • Gluteus medius
    • Gluteus lateralis
    • Gluteus minimus
    • Gluteus maximus
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Gluteus maximus

    Source evidence

    PDF page 435: Anatomists name the skeletal muscles according to a number of criteria, each of which describes the muscle in some way. These include naming the muscle after its shape, its size compared to other muscles in the area, its location in the body or the location of its attachments to the skeleton, how many origins it has, or its action. The skeletal muscle’s anatomical location or its relationship to a particular bone often determines its name. For example, the frontalis muscle is located on top of the frontal bone of the skull. Similarly, the shapes of some muscles are very distinctive and the names, such as orbicularis, reflect the shape. For the buttocks, the size of the muscles influences the names: gluteus maximus (largest), gluteus medius (medium), and the gluteus minimus (smallest). Names were given to indicate length— brevis (short), longus (long)—and to identify position relative to the midline: lateralis (to the outside away from the midline), and medialis (toward the midline). The direction of the muscle fibers and fascicles are used to describe muscles relative to the midline, such as the rectus (straight) abdominis, or the oblique (at an angle) muscles of the abdomen. Some muscle names indicate the number of muscles in a group. One example of this is the quadriceps, a group of four muscles located on the anterior (front) thigh. Other muscle names can provide information as to how many origins a particular muscle has, such as the biceps brachii. The prefix bi indicates that the muscle has two origins and tri indicates three origins. The location of a muscle’s attachment can also appear in its name. When the name of a muscle is based on the attachments, the origin is always named first. For instance, the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum (sterno) and clavicle (cleido), and it inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The last feature by which to name a muscle is its action. When muscles are named for the movement they produce, one can find action words in their name. Some examples are flexor (decreases the angle at the joint), extensor (increases the angle at the joint), abductor (moves the bone away from the midline), or adductor (moves the bone toward the midline).

  11. The oblique muscles of the abdomen are named for fibers running:

    • Toward the midline
    • In a circle
    • At an angle
    • Straight up
    Reveal answer

    Answer: At an angle

    Source evidence

    PDF page 435: Anatomists name the skeletal muscles according to a number of criteria, each of which describes the muscle in some way. These include naming the muscle after its shape, its size compared to other muscles in the area, its location in the body or the location of its attachments to the skeleton, how many origins it has, or its action. The skeletal muscle’s anatomical location or its relationship to a particular bone often determines its name. For example, the frontalis muscle is located on top of the frontal bone of the skull. Similarly, the shapes of some muscles are very distinctive and the names, such as orbicularis, reflect the shape. For the buttocks, the size of the muscles influences the names: gluteus maximus (largest), gluteus medius (medium), and the gluteus minimus (smallest). Names were given to indicate length— brevis (short), longus (long)—and to identify position relative to the midline: lateralis (to the outside away from the midline), and medialis (toward the midline). The direction of the muscle fibers and fascicles are used to describe muscles relative to the midline, such as the rectus (straight) abdominis, or the oblique (at an angle) muscles of the abdomen. Some muscle names indicate the number of muscles in a group. One example of this is the quadriceps, a group of four muscles located on the anterior (front) thigh. Other muscle names can provide information as to how many origins a particular muscle has, such as the biceps brachii. The prefix bi indicates that the muscle has two origins and tri indicates three origins. The location of a muscle’s attachment can also appear in its name. When the name of a muscle is based on the attachments, the origin is always named first. For instance, the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum (sterno) and clavicle (cleido), and it inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The last feature by which to name a muscle is its action. When muscles are named for the movement they produce, one can find action words in their name. Some examples are flexor (decreases the angle at the joint), extensor (increases the angle at the joint), abductor (moves the bone away from the midline), or adductor (moves the bone toward the midline).

  12. The quadriceps is a group of how many muscles on the anterior thigh?

    • Three
    • Two
    • Five
    • Four
    Reveal answer

    Answer: Four

    Source evidence

    PDF page 435: Anatomists name the skeletal muscles according to a number of criteria, each of which describes the muscle in some way. These include naming the muscle after its shape, its size compared to other muscles in the area, its location in the body or the location of its attachments to the skeleton, how many origins it has, or its action. The skeletal muscle’s anatomical location or its relationship to a particular bone often determines its name. For example, the frontalis muscle is located on top of the frontal bone of the skull. Similarly, the shapes of some muscles are very distinctive and the names, such as orbicularis, reflect the shape. For the buttocks, the size of the muscles influences the names: gluteus maximus (largest), gluteus medius (medium), and the gluteus minimus (smallest). Names were given to indicate length— brevis (short), longus (long)—and to identify position relative to the midline: lateralis (to the outside away from the midline), and medialis (toward the midline). The direction of the muscle fibers and fascicles are used to describe muscles relative to the midline, such as the rectus (straight) abdominis, or the oblique (at an angle) muscles of the abdomen. Some muscle names indicate the number of muscles in a group. One example of this is the quadriceps, a group of four muscles located on the anterior (front) thigh. Other muscle names can provide information as to how many origins a particular muscle has, such as the biceps brachii. The prefix bi indicates that the muscle has two origins and tri indicates three origins. The location of a muscle’s attachment can also appear in its name. When the name of a muscle is based on the attachments, the origin is always named first. For instance, the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck has a dual origin on the sternum (sterno) and clavicle (cleido), and it inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The last feature by which to name a muscle is its action. When muscles are named for the movement they produce, one can find action words in their name. Some examples are flexor (decreases the angle at the joint), extensor (increases the angle at the joint), abductor (moves the bone away from the midline), or adductor (moves the bone toward the midline).

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