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Noun: depressor  di'pre-su(r)
  1. Any skeletal muscle that draws a body part down
    "The depressor anguli oris is a depressor muscle that pulls down the corner of the mouth";
    - depressor muscle
     
  2. Any nerve whose activity tends to reduce the activity or tone of the body part it serves
    "The vagus nerve acts as a depressor nerve for heart rate";
    - depressor nerve
     
  3. A device used by physician to press a part down or aside
    "The doctor used a tongue depressor during the examination"

Derived forms: depressors

Type of: device, nerve, nervus, skeletal muscle, striated muscle

Encyclopedia: Depressor