muscle (as musl), muscule

[Fr. muscle, from Lat. musculum, acc us. of musculus =(1) a little mouse, (2) a muscle, from its creeping appearance; dim in. of mus =a mouse; Sp. & Port. musculo; Ital. muscolo; Ger., Dan., Dut. & Sw.muskel.] 1. Anat . & Physiol . The two chief forms of muscular ti ue are the involuntary, consisting of smooth, simple filaments, and the voluntary muscles, with the heart, consisting of compound or striped fibers or tubes containing fibers. There is a sheath, or sarcolemma, inclosing the filaments or fibrils. The chief peculiar property of muscle is its contractility. There are various muscular affec tions, e . g ., in cases of paralysis; spasms in tetanus and poisoning by strychnia, muscular progre ive atrophy, perversion of muscular sense, muscular rheumatism, . *2. Zool .: The same as MUSSEL (q. v.). Hollow muscles : The heart, intestines, urinary bladder, .