Basic Terminology Flashcards
Define: abduct
to draw away from the median line or axis
Define: adduct
to draw toward the median line or axis
Define: afferent
nerve fiber or blood vessel that ‘carries toward’ a structure or organ
Define: alveolus
pit, sac or socket; hollow
Define: anterior
towards the front or ventral part of the body; abdominal side
Define: articulate
to join as in a joint; to bind or make tight
Define: bifurcate
to branch, a fork
Define: canal
tubular channel comprised of the same tissue through which it travels
Define: condyle
bony knob or rounded eminence that articulates with another bone
Define: crista
a narrow projecting ridge of a bone; a crest
Define: distal
farthest portion away from the main body; far from point of attachment
Define: efferent
nerve fiber or blood vessel that ‘carries away from’ a structure or organ
Define: external
superficial, on the outside
Define: fissure
narrow opening or slit
Define: foramen
opening or hole in a bone or membrane
Define: fossa
shallow longitudinal depression in a surface
Define: fovea (bone)
small depression (often articulating with another bone); a pit
Define: frontal
coronal plane; divides organs into anterior and posterior halves
Define: head (bone)
the rounded portion of the proximal end of a bone that articulates with another bone
Define: inferior
situated below; closer to the feet
Define: internal
below the surface; inside or deep
Define: lateral
lying to the outside of the median axis; on the side
Define: meatus
canal or passageway through a bone or other organ
Define: medial
towards the median axis
Define: parietal
referring to the perimeter of the body or of a cavity; a wall
Define: posterior
towards the back or dorsal part of the body
Define: process (bone)
the prominence of a bone that projects from the main mass
Define: prone
lying with face and palms downwards
Define: proximal
closest portion towards the main body; near point of attachment
Define: sagittal
the plane that divides organs into right and left halves
Define: sinus
hollow cavity; passage or recess in a bone or vessel
Define: spine (bony landmark)
bony process that is sharp and narrow
Define: superior
situated towards the top; i.e. towards the head
Define: supine
lying with face and palms upwards
Define: transverse
horizontal plane or cross section
Define: trochanter
one of two bony processes on the femur (muscle attachment sites)
Define: tubercle (bone)
small knobby prominence on bone
Define: tuberosity
roughened, large prominence on a bone (muscle attachment site)
Define: viscera
referring to internal organs
Define: vascular
having a blood supply; vessels
Define: eversion (of the foot)
turning the foot outwards (lateral rotation)
Define: inversion (of the foot)
turning the foot inwards (medial rotation)
What is another name for the anatomical ‘superior?’
Cranial
What is another name for the anatomical ‘inferior?’
Caudal
What is another name for the anatomical ‘anterior?’
Ventral
What is another name for the anatomical ‘posterior?’
Dorsal
Define ‘crural.’
Describes the shin area
Define ‘sural.’
Describes the calf area
