lumbrical

Meanings

adjectivelumbrical (not comparable)

not comparableWorm-like.
the lumbrical muscles of the forearm or of the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides.

nounlumbrical (plural lumbricals)

anatomyAny of the four small muscles of the palm of the hand that arise from tendons of the flexor digitorum profundus, are inserted at the base of the digit to which the tendon passes, and flex the proximal phalanx and extend the two distal phalanges of each finger.
anatomyAny of four small muscles of the foot homologous to the lumbricals of the hand that arise from tendons of the flexor digitorum longus and are inserted into the first phalanges of the four small toes of which they flex the proximal phalanges and extend the two distal phalanges.

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Also see

From New Latin lumbricalis, from lumbricus (“intestinal worm, earthworm”) + -alis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

More words from New Latin

Cite this entry

APA

lumbrical. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lumbrical

MLA

“lumbrical.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lumbrical. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lumbrical,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lumbrical.