depressor

de·pres·sor  (d-prsr)

n.

1. Something that depresses or is used to depress.

2. An instrument used to depress a part: a tongue depressor.

3. Any of various muscles that serve to draw down a part of the body.

---

depressor [dɪˈprɛsə]

n

1. a person or thing that depresses

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) any muscle that draws down a part

3. (Medicine) Med an instrument used to press down or aside an organ or part a tongue depressor

4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) Also called depressor nerve any nerve that when stimulated produces a fall in blood pressure by dilating the arteries or lowering the heartbeat

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	depressor - any skeletal muscle that draws a body part down depressor muscle skeletal muscle, striated muscle - a muscle that is connected at either or both ends to a bone and so move parts of the skeleton; a muscle that is characterized by transverse stripes
	2.	depressor - any nerve whose activity tends to reduce the activity or tone of the body part it serves depressor nerve nerve, nervus - any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
	3.	depressor - a device used by physician to press a part down or aside device - an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water" tongue depressor - a thin depressor used to press the tongue down during an examination of the mouth and throat