TENSOR TYMPANI

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tensor tympani mean? 

• TENSOR TYMPANI (noun)
  The noun TENSOR TYMPANI has 1 sense:

1. a small muscle in the middle ear that tenses to protect the eardrum

  Familiarity information: TENSOR TYMPANI used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TENSOR TYMPANI (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small muscle in the middle ear that tenses to protect the eardrum

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("tensor tympani" is a kind of...):

tensor (any of several muscles that cause an attached structure to become tense or firm)

 Context examples 

A channel or tunnel for the tensor tympani muscle within the tympanic cavity which acts to dull sounds.

(Canal for Tensor Tympani, NCI Thesaurus)