Rhomboid
Rhomboid
Rhomboid (pronunciation: /ˈrɒmbɔɪd/) is a term used in both geometry and anatomy. In geometry, a rhomboid refers to a parallelogram with adjacent sides of unequal lengths. In anatomy, the term refers to either of two muscles located in the upper back, named for their rhombus-like shape.
Etymology
The term 'rhomboid' is derived from the Greek word 'rhomboeidēs', meaning 'like a rhombus'. It is a combination of 'rhombos' (a spinning top or rhombus) and 'eidos' (form or shape).
Geometry
In geometry, a rhomboid is a parallelogram in which adjacent sides are of unequal lengths and angles are oblique. This differentiates it from a rhombus, which has all sides of equal length.
Anatomy
In anatomy, the rhomboid muscles are two muscles located in the upper back, named for their rhombus-like shape. These are the rhomboid major muscle and the rhomboid minor muscle. They are responsible for the retraction of the scapula.
Rhomboid Major
The rhomboid major muscle is a skeletal muscle that helps to hold the scapula (shoulder blade) onto the rib cage and also acts to retract the scapula towards the vertebral column.
Rhomboid Minor
The rhomboid minor muscle is located directly above the rhomboid major muscle. It is a thin, flat muscle that also helps in retracting the scapula towards the vertebral column and holding the scapula onto the rib cage.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Rhomboid
- Wikipedia's article - Rhomboid
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