rectus

noun

rec·​tus ˈrek-təs 

plural recti ˈrek-ˌtī 

-ˌtē

: any of several straight muscles (as of the abdomen)

Examples of rectus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Crunches work your rectus abdominis (the long, flat muscle on the front of your torso), plus your internal and external obliques (the muscles that wrap around the side of your body). —Amy Eisinger, M.a., SELF, 29 Dec. 2020

This core-centric move targets the rectus abdominis and transverse abdominis (a deep core muscle that wraps around the sides and spine) as well as the inner and outer thighs, says Mansour. —Jenny McCoy, SELF, 14 Mar. 2019

Targets the core, especially the rectus abdominis and obliques. 6. —SELF, 18 Jan. 2019

In addition to the triceps work, the list of muscles working here includes rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis and internal and external obliques. —Leah Prinzivalli, SELF, 2 May 2018

This move works both the internal and external obliques as well as the transverse and rectus abdominis, says Mansour. —Jenny McCoy, SELF, 6 Apr. 2018

Within your core, this push-up variation specifically targets your obliques (the muscles on the side of your abdomen) as well as your rectus abdominis (aka, your abs, the muscles that run vertically on your abdomen). —Jenny McCoy, SELF, 6 Mar. 2018

Another factor that can affect the size of a woman's bump is a condition called diastasis recti, which is when the left and right sides of the rectus abdomens muscles separate. —Jessica Migala, Health.com, 26 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from rectus musculus straight muscle

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rectus

noun

rec·​tus ˈrek-təs 

plural recti -ˌtī 

-ˌtē

: any of several straight muscles (as of the abdomen)

Medical Definition

rectus

noun

rec·​tus ˈrek-təs 

plural recti -ˌtī 

1

: any of several straight muscles (as the rectus abdominis or the rectus femoris)

2

: any of four extraocular muscles of the eyeball that arise from the border of the optic foramen and run forward to insert into the sclera of the eyeball:

a

: one that is the thinnest and narrowest and inserts into the superior aspect of the sclera

called also rectus superior, superior rectus

b

: one that is the longest, arises by two heads, and inserts into the lateral aspect of the sclera

called also lateral rectus, rectus lateralis

c

: one that is the broadest and inserts into the medial aspect of the sclera

called also medial rectus, rectus medialis

d

: one that inserts into the inferior aspect of the sclera

called also inferior rectus, rectus inferior