Trigastric is a term commonly used in anatomy and biology to refer to three muscles that are arranged in a similar shape to a triple-headed arrow. The spelling of Trigastric is pronounced as /traɪˈɡæstrɪk/ phonetically, in which "tri" means three and "gastric" indicates related to the stomach. The trigastric muscle is found in various animals, including humans, and plays a crucial role in several bodily functions, including chewing and swallowing, breathing, and neck movement.
Trigastric is an adjective used to describe the anatomical structure of certain muscles or organs in the body, particularly those with three bellies or muscle heads. The term is derived from the Latin words "tri," meaning three, and "gaster," meaning belly or stomach.
In biology and anatomy, trigastric typically refers to the trigastric muscle, which is found in the head and neck area. This muscle is named for its three main bellies that run parallel to each other. The trigastric muscle consists of the anterior belly, posterior belly, and intermediate tendon. The anterior and posterior bellies are located on either side of the face, starting from just above the ear and extending down towards the chin. These bellies converge and attach to the intermediate tendon, which runs vertically through the center of the muscle. Together, these three elements of the trigastric muscle play a crucial role in various functions, such as chewing, swallowing, and facial expressions.
Beyond the trigastric muscle, the term can also be applied to other structures in the body that possess three distinct divisions or lobes. For example, trigastric can refer to the trigastric lobe of the liver, which is a small extension forming three divisions or lobes within the organ.
Overall, trigastric is a specialized term used in anatomy to designate structures featuring three divisions or bellies, primarily referring to the trigastric muscle and the trigastric lobe of the liver.
Having three bellies, noting a muscle with two tendinous interruptions.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "trigastric" is derived from two components: "tri-" and "gastric".
1. "Tri-" is a prefix derived from the Greek word "treis", meaning "three". It is used in English to indicate the number three or the presence of three parts.
2. "Gastric" is an adjective derived from the Greek word "gaster", which means "belly" or "stomach". In anatomy, "gastric" refers to anything related to the stomach.
Therefore, "trigastric" refers to something having three stomachs or related to three stomachs, depending on the context of its usage.