PENNATE MUSCLE Meaning and
Definition
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A pennate muscle is a type of muscle fiber arrangement characterized by a feather-like pattern of muscle fibers that attach obliquely to a central tendon. The term "pennate" refers to the Latin word "penna," meaning feather, which aptly describes the appearance of these muscles. This unique arrangement allows for increased muscle mass and strength, making them more efficient in generating force compared to other muscle fiber arrangements.
The muscle fibers in a pennate muscle are arranged at an angle to the line of pull, rather than running parallel to it as in parallel muscle fibers. This configuration enables a greater number of muscle fibers to be packed into a given space, resulting in a higher concentration of contractile elements. Consequently, pennate muscles exhibit a substantial force-generating capacity, making them ideal for actions requiring strength and power.
There are two primary types of pennate muscles: unipennate and bipennate. In unipennate muscles, the muscle fibers radiate diagonally from one side of the tendon, resembling a single row of feathers along one side of a quill. In bipennate muscles, the fibers fan out from both sides of the central tendon, resembling feathers on both sides of a quill. This configuration further enhances the muscle's ability to produce force, as it allows for a greater number of muscle fibers to be packed into a smaller area.
Pennate muscles are typically found in areas that require strong contractions, such as the muscles of the limbs, neck, and back. These muscles play a crucial role in various activities, including running, jumping, and lifting weights. Their arrangement allows for efficient force transmission, making them an essential component of human and animal locomotion.
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• One which has a central or lateral tendon toward which the fibers run, from one or both sides, like the barbs of a feather.
• A muscle with a central or lateral tendon toward which the fibers run like the barbs of a feather toward its shaft; when the fibers run to one side of a tendon only, the muscle is called unipennate, when they converge to both sides of a central tendon, they are called bipennate.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PENNATE MUSCLE
- oennate muscle
- lennate muscle
- -ennate muscle
- 0ennate muscle
- pwnnate muscle
- psnnate muscle
- pdnnate muscle
- prnnate muscle
- p4nnate muscle
- p3nnate muscle
- pebnate muscle
- pemnate muscle
- pejnate muscle
- pehnate muscle
- penbate muscle
- penmate muscle
- penjate muscle
- penhate muscle
- pennzte muscle
- pennste muscle
Etymology of PENNATE MUSCLE
The word "pennate" comes from the Latin word "penna" meaning "feather". In biology, it refers to a muscle fiber arrangement that resembles the structure of a feather, with individual muscle fibers attaching diagonally to a central tendon. The term "pennate muscle" was coined based on the visual resemblance between these muscle fibers and the veins of a feather.
Similar spelling words for PENNATE MUSCLE
- pinhead mask,
- banda music,
- muzak band,
- music band,
- muscle bound.
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