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Glossary of Anatomical Terms

This is a simple Glossary of anatomical terms designed around the topics covered in the sections. These have been taken from a list of about 5000 terms approved in 1895 and revised in 1950. Each part has one name, which should be as short and simple as possible. Related terms should be similar (e.g. radial artery and radial nerve). 

Abduction -- to move away (Latin ab=from, ducere=to lead)
Adduction -- to move towards (Latin ad=towards)
Acetabulum -- Vinegar cup (Latin acetum=vinegar)
Acromion -- point of the shoulder (Greek akros=point,omos=shoulder)
Anconeus -- related to the elbow (Greek agkos=bend of the arm)
Annular -- ring-shaped (Latin annulus=a ring)
Articular -- joint (Latin=articulatus=jointed)
Astragalus -- ankle bone (Greek) (Latin=talus)
Atlas -- Greek god Atlas who supported the earth
Axilla -- armpit (Latin)
Axis -- pivot (Latin)

Bursa -- sac (Greek)

Calcis -- of the heel (Latin calcar=a spur)
Capitulum -- small head (Latin caput=head)
Carotid -- (Greek karos=sleep)
Cartilage -- (Latin cartilago=cartilage)
Cervical -- (Latin cervix=neck)
Condyle -- (Greek condulos=knuckle)
Coronal -- (Latin corona=a crown)
Cricoid -- signet ring (Greek cricos= a ring, eidos=form)
Cruciate -- cross (Latin crux=a cross)
Cuneiform -- (Latin cuneus=wedge)

Diarthrosis -- movable joint (Greek dia=through, arthron=joint)
Digital -- (Latin=a finger)

Epi -- upon (Greek)

Femur -- thigh (Latin)
Fibula -- buckle (Latin)
Foramen -- opening (Latin)
Fovea -- pit (Latin)

Glenoid -- (Greek glene=cavity, eidos=form)

Hallux -- (Latin hallex=great toe)
Humerus -- arm bone (Latin)

Innominate -- no name (Latin in=not, nomem=a name)
Ischium -- (Greek ischion=hip)

Jugular -- (Latin  jugulum=neck)

Labrum -- lip (Latin)
Lamina -- a plate (Latin)
Lumbar -- loins

Manubrium -- a handle (Latin)
Mastoid -- nipple-shaped (Greek mastos=breast, eidos=form)
Median -- mid-line
Metacarpal -- (Greek meta=after, karpos=wrist)

Nuchae -- (Latin=neck)

Obturator -- (Latin obturare=to seal, obturator formen=sealed foramen)
Olecranon -- (Greek olekranon=point of the elbow)

Parietal -- wall of an organ (Latin parietalis)
Patella -- a plate (Latin)
Pelvis -- a basin (Latin)
Phalanges -- (Greek) phalanx
Pisiform -- (Latin pisus=a pea, forma=shape)
Pollex -- a thumb (Latin)

Radius -- a spoke (Latin)
Ramus -- a branch (Latin)

Saggital -- straight (Latin sagitta=arrow)
Saphenous -- visible (Greek saphenes=manifest)
Scaphoid -- (Latin scapha=a skiff, Greek skaphe)
Scapula -- shoulder (Latin)
Sesamoid -- sesame seed (Greek)
Sternum -- (Greek sternon=the breast)
Sustentaculum -- support (Latin)
Suture -- seam (Latin)
Syndesmosis -- a joint where two bones are bound together by fibres (Greek=band)

Trochanter -- a raised bony protuberance (Greek trochanter=A runner)
Trochlea -- pulley (Latin)
Tuberosity -- a rounded smooth raised surface (Latin tubersitas)

Xiphoid -- (Greek xiphos=sword, eidos=shape)

 

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This page was last modified on 15 Nov 2000

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