sartorius
/sɑː(ɹ)ˈtɔːɹ.i.əs/ noun, proper noun
Forms sartorii
- noun (anatomy) A long, slender muscle that runs from the iliac crest along the anterior and medial aspects of the thigh to the proximal tibia, superficial to the quadriceps musculature; the longest muscle in the human body.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Latin sartor (“tailor, mender”) + -ius. The connection with this occupation follows from the fact that tailors typically worked in a seated position with fabric spread out in their lap, resting the ankle of one lower leg on the opposite knee for support. The sartorius muscle is important to maintaining this posture.
From sartorius (“anatomy: a muscle”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A muscle of the thigh, called the tailor's muscle, which arises from the hip bone and is inserted just below the knee. So named because its contraction was supposed to produce the position of the legs assumed by the tailor in sitting.
Etymology [NL., fr. L. sartor a patcher, tailor, fr. sarcire, sartum, to patch, mend.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “sartorius”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details