Sternocleidomastoid (Noun)
Meaning
One of two thick muscles running from the sternum and clavicle to the mastoid and occipital bone; turns head obliquely to the opposite side; when acting together they flex the neck and extend the head.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The sternocleidomastoid muscle is responsible for rotating the head to the opposite side, making it a crucial muscle for everyday movements.
- During the physical examination, the doctor palpated the sternocleidomastoid muscle to assess its tone and strength.
- The patient's sternocleidomastoid muscle was strained from sleeping in an awkward position, causing her to experience neck pain and stiffness.
- The physical therapist instructed the patient to perform exercises that targeted the sternocleidomastoid muscle to improve its flexibility and range of motion.
- The anatomist carefully dissected the sternocleidomastoid muscle to demonstrate its origin and insertion points to the medical students.