Anatomical Terms Flashcards
Abduct
To draw away from the median line or axis
Adduct
To draw toward the median line or axis
Afferent
nerve fiber or blood vessel that “carries toward” a structure
Alveolus
pit, sack, or socket. Hollow
Anterior
toward the front/ventral part of the body. Abdominal side
Articulate
a joining as in a joint. To bind or make tight
Bifurcate
to divide into to branches, fork.
Canal
tubular channel comprised of the same tissue through which it travels
condyle
know or rounded eminence that articulates with another bone
crista
narrow projecting ridge of a bone. “Crest”
distal
farthest portion from the main body, away from the point of attachment
efferent
nerve fiber or blood vessel that “carries away” from structure or organ
external
on the outside surface. Superficial
Fissure
narrow opening or slit in bone
foramen
opening or hole in a bone or membrane. “door”
fossa
shallow longitudinal depression of a surface. “Dig”
fovea
small concave, cup-shaped depression in a bone that articulates with another bone. “pit”
frontal
also termed coronal plane. divides organs into anterior and posterior halves
Head
round portion of the proximal end of a bone that articulates with another bone.
inferior
situated below or closer to the feet. “Lower”
Internal
away from the surface of the body or part. inside. deep.
lateral
lying to the right/left of the median axis, “side”
meatus
canal or passageway through a bone or organ
Medial
toward the median axis or inside. “middle”
parietal
referring to the perimeter of the body or of a cavity. Wall
Posterior
toward the back or dorsal part of the body
process
prominence of a bone that projects from the main mass.
prone
lying with the face and palms downward
proximal
closest portion to the main body, nearest the point of origin.
sagittal
the plane that divides organs into right and left halves
sinus
hollow cavity, passage or recess in bode or vessel
spin
bony process that is sharp and narrow
superior
situated toward the top or toward the head
supine
lying with the face and palms upward
transverse
horizontal plane or cross section that divides organs into superior and inferior parts
trochanter
one of two bony processes of the femur for muscle attachment
tubercle
small knobby prominence on a bone
tuberosity
roughened, large prominence on a bone for muscle attachment
viscera
referring to internal organs or viscera
Vascular
having a blood supply. “vessels”
