DictionarycontractorMuscle drawing parts together
noun

contractor

A muscle that draws body parts together.

The old anatomy text calls the muscle a contractor because it draws parts together.

Etymology

The Latin root means to draw together. The muscle name identifies the structure by its action of pulling parts toward one another.

More examples

  • The diagram labels a contractor near the joint.
  • The historical glossary defines contractor as a contracting muscle.
  • The student compared contractor with the modern anatomical term.

Forms

contractor

Similar words

contracting muscle
The explicit modern description without the rare noun.