depressor
depressor Lexical Profile
depressor Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A medical or surgical instrument used to press down or hold an organ, tissue, or body part out of the way during an examination or procedure (especially a tongue depressor).
"The pediatrician used a wooden depressor to hold down the child's tongue and examine the back of the throat."
A muscle that draws down or lowers a specific part of the body, such as the lower jaw, lip, or ribs.
"The anatomy students learned how the depressor muscle of the lower lip pulls the mouth downward during facial expressions."
An afferent nerve whose stimulation reduces arterial blood pressure and slows the heart rate by inhibiting vasomotor centers.
"Stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve triggers a reflex decrease in systemic blood pressure."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'depressor' with 'depressant'. A 'depressor' is an anatomical muscle, nerve, or physical instrument that pushes something down, whereas a 'depressant' is a chemical substance or drug that reduces central nervous system activity.
• Rhymes for depressor
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin depressor, an agent noun derived from the Latin verb deprimere ('to press down'), from de- ('down') and premere ('to press').