psoas

[soh-uhs]

noun

Anatomy.

plural

psoai, psoae 

1. either of two muscles, one on each side of the loin, extending internally from the sides of the spinal column to the upper end of the femur, which assist in flexing and rotating the thigh and flexing the trunk on the pelvis.

psoas

/ ˈsəʊəs /

noun

1. either of two muscles of the loins that aid in flexing and rotating the thigh

Other Word Forms

• psoatic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of psoas¹

1675–85; < New Latin < Greek psóās, accusative plural (taken as nominative singular) of psóa a muscle of the loins

Word History and Origins

Origin of psoas¹

C17: from New Latin, from Greek psoai (pl)

Example Sentences

One of the exercises involves lying on a psoas ball.

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Nadal, who won his 14th French Open title last year, was diagnosed with a tear in his left psoas muscle after losing in the second round of the Australian Open in January.

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Ms Coles said the tumour has grown in her psoas muscle in the lower lumbar region of her spine.

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This exercise begins to open up the psoas muscle, the deepest muscle in the core that connects the spine to the legs.

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“But I had a labral tear and my psoas muscle was almost severed due to a structural abnormality in my hip. It wasn’t pretty.”

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