The word 蜷曲 is formed by combining the character 蜷, which means to curl or coil and incorporates the radical 虫 (insect/worm) to imply a curling motion often associated with small creatures, with the character 曲, meaning bent or curved. Both characters contribute semantically, with 蜷 emphasizing the action of curling and 曲 describing the resulting curved shape, together conveying the meaning of being coiled or curled up.