myotome
(ˈmaɪətəʊm)
[f. myo- + Gr. τοµή section, and -τόµος cutting: see -tome.]
1. Anat. A muscular segment or metamere.
| 1856 Goodsir in Edin. New Philos. Jrnl. (1857) V. 122 For the muscular system I employ the terms Myome, Myotome, Synmyotome. 1872 Humphry Myology 7 The transverse inscriptions or sclerotomes which..divide the lateral muscles into so many ‘myotomes’. 1894 Gadow & Abbott in Phil. Trans. CLXXXVI. 182 The original protovertebræ are now differentiated into sklerotomes..and into myotomes. |
2. Surg. An instrument for dividing muscle.
| 1846 F. Brittan tr. Malgaigne's Man. Oper. Surg. 289 To destroy the corresponding septum of the muscular sheath, and thus enlarge the subconjunctival space in which the myotome is to act. |