: any of several straight muscles (as of the abdomen)

Examples of rectus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Crunches work your rectus abdominis (the long, flat muscle on the front of your torso), plus your internal and external obliques (the muscles that wrap around the side of your body). Amy Eisinger, M.a., SELF, 29 Dec. 2020 This core-centric move targets the rectus abdominis and transverse abdominis (a deep core muscle that wraps around the sides and spine) as well as the inner and outer thighs, says Mansour. Jenny McCoy, SELF, 14 Mar. 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from rectus musculus straight muscle

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rectus was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near rectus

Cite this Entry

“Rectus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rectus. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

: any of several straight muscles (as of the abdomen)

Medical Definition

1
: any of several straight muscles (as the rectus abdominis or the rectus femoris)
2
: any of four extraocular muscles of the eyeball that arise from the border of the optic foramen and run forward to insert into the sclera of the eyeball:
a
: one that is the thinnest and narrowest and inserts into the superior aspect of the sclera

called also rectus superior, superior rectus

b
: one that is the longest, arises by two heads, and inserts into the lateral aspect of the sclera

called also lateral rectus, rectus lateralis

c
: one that is the broadest and inserts into the medial aspect of the sclera

called also medial rectus, rectus medialis

d
: one that inserts into the inferior aspect of the sclera

called also inferior rectus, rectus inferior

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