The Human Body: Anatomical Terms (#1)
Aditus: an entrance or opening
Ala: a wing-like process
Alveolus: a deep narrow pit, such as a tooth-socket
Ampulla: used to describe the dilated part of a duct
Ansa: a loop, usually referring to a nerve
Antrum: a cavity
Aponeurosis: a glistening sheet of fibrous connective tissue from which muscle fibers arise or into which they runv
Artery: a blood vessel which conducts blood from the hear
Bone: a special form of connective tissue in which calcium salts are deposited and which provides a framework, or skeleton, for the other tissues of the body
Bursa: a membranous sac containing a small amount of viscous fluid. A bursa is usually found in tissues where friction develops, such as where a tendon crosses a bony prominence. A bursa may form synovial sheaths to surround tendons as they cross other tendons or bone
Canalva and relatively narrow channel, or tunnel, often through a bone. A canaliculus is a smaller canal
Capsule: a fibrous or membranous envelope surrounding an organ. An articular capsule surrounds each synovial joint, being attached to the bones just beyond the limits of the joint cavity
Cartilage: a firm white tissue, from which most parts of the bony skeleton are formed and which persists to protect the surfaces of bones and joints
Caruncle: a small fleshy eminenc
Cauda: tai
Cavity: a hollow space (or potential space) within the body or its organs
Cervix: means neck and is applied to the neck like portion of an organ (e.g. cervix of uterus
Chiasma: a crossing of fibers in the form of an X. Used primarily to describe nerve fibers
Commissure: a band of fibers which join corresponding right and left parts of a structure across the median plane
Corpus: means bod
Cortex: outer part, or rind, or some organs as distinguished from their inner part, or core usually called a medulla
Crest: a projecting ridge, especially one which on a bon
Crus: means a leg and is applied to a structure that resembles a leg or stal
Decussation: same as a chiasma. A crossing of fibers in the form of an X
Digitation: a finger like process of a muscle
Disc: a flat round structure usually applied to plates of cartilage in joints
Duct: a tube for the passage of fluid, especially secretions of glands. A ductule is a small duct
Epithelium: a layer of cells which forms the external surface of the skin, or which lines the cavities of the digestive, respiratory and urogenital organs, serous cavities, inner coats of blood and lymphatic vessels, gland and cavities within the brain. The epithelium of the skin is the epidermis. The epithelium of the digestive, respiratory and urogenital organs is moistened by a film of mucus and is known as the mucous coat. The epithelium lining bloods vessels is known as the endothelium. Serous cavities are lined by epithelium called mesothelium
Fascia: tissue which lies immediately deep to the skin known as subcutaneous tissue. It usually consists of a layer of connective tissue which contains fat, and of a deep and more fibrous layer which adheres to the surface of the underlying muscle and vessels. These layers are known as superficial and deep fascia respectively. Fascia surrounds every muscle, organ, vessel and nerve in the body
Fasciculusva small bundle. A term that is usually applied to collections of nerve fibers
Filum: literally mean a “thread”. This name is given to several thread-like structures such as the filum terminale, the lower extension of the pia mater of the spinal cord
Fold: a ridge formed where a membrane doubles back on itself
Folium: mean leaf. The plural “folia” is applied to the folds of the cortex of the cerebellum
Foramen: a hole, often in a bone or between adjacent bones
Fossa: a “ditch”, usually referring to a shallow depression or cavity
Fovea: a small pit or foss
Frenulum: a small fold of the mucous coat which limits the movement of the structure to which it is attached
Fundus: used to denote the widest part of a hollow organ
The following web site does a great job of relating this information: http://home.comcast.net/~wnor/terminologyanatplanes.htm
Tags: Anatomy
