Interossei is a plural noun that refers to a group of muscles between the bones of the hand or foot. The spelling of this word can be challenging because of the combination of different sounds. The word is pronounced in-tuh-ROH-see and the IPA phonetic transcription would be /ˌɪn.təˈroʊ.si/. The "inter" prefix means "between," and the "ossei" suffix means "bones." Thus, the interossei muscles are the muscles that lie between the bones of the hand or foot.
Interossei refers to a group of small muscles found in the hand and foot. The term "interossei" is derived from the Latin word "inter," meaning between, and "os," meaning bone, indicating the muscles' location between the bones. These muscles are predominantly responsible for specific movements and functions in the hands and feet, playing a crucial role in fine motor activities and maintaining proper alignment and stability.
In the hand, there are two groups of interossei muscles: the palmar interossei and the dorsal interossei. The palmar interossei are located on the palm side of the hand and are responsible for adducting the fingers towards the midline of the hand. These muscles also aid in flexion and extension of the fingers. On the other hand, the dorsal interossei are situated on the back of the hand and perform abduction of the fingers, which means they spread the fingers apart.
In the foot, the interossei muscles are located between the metatarsal bones. They play an essential role in controlling movements and generating forces required for maintaining balance and stability during walking and running. These muscles help to control the flexion, extension, and spreading of the toes. They also contribute to the overall arch support and maintenance of proper foot alignment.
The interossei muscles are innervated by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve in the hand and by the lateral plantar nerve in the foot. Injury or dysfunction of these muscles can lead to difficulties with finger and toe movements, weakness, instability, and loss of fine motor control.
Plural of interosseus, which see under musculus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "interossei" has its etymology rooted in Latin. It is derived from the Latin words "inter", meaning "between", and "os", meaning "bone". In Latin, "interosseus" (singular form) is an adjective used to describe something that is situated or occurring between bones. In anatomy, the term "interossei" refers to a group of muscles that are located between the bones of the hand or foot.