Glossary: Anatomy Flashcards
This term is applied to a lesser structure that resembles a similar organ in structure and function, such as the accessory pancreatic duct
Accessory (Auxilary)
A protein found in blood plasma
Albumin
The digestive system tube from the mouth to the anus, including the mouth or buccal cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines
Alimentary Canal
The branch of science dealing with the study of the structure of the body
Anatomy
Connection between vessels; union of two vessels going to the same body part
Anastomoses
Before or in front of; refers to the front side of the body or structure
Anterior (Ventral)
The 126 bones that make up the pectoral girdle, upper extremities, pelvic girdle, and lower extremities
Appendicular skeleton
The connection between two or more bones; a joint
Articulation
The 80 bones composing the skull, vertebrae, thorax, and hyoid bone; the central structure to which the appendicular skeleton is attached
Axial Skeleton
Refers to the symmetry of paired organs, or to an organism whose right and left halves are similar images of each other
Bilateral Symmetry
Pertaining to bile
Biliary
The organs (liver and gall bladder) and ducts that participate in the secretion, storage, and delivery of bile to the duodenum
Biliary Tract
A membranous sac or receptacle for a secretion or excretion
Bladder
Relating to the cheek or mouth
Buccal
The study of the heart
Cardiology
The canal or passageway in the temporal bone through which the internal carotid artery passes
Carotid Canal
Situated at or pertaining to a center or central point
Central
The part of the large intestine beginning with the ascending colon and ending with the sigmoid colon
Colon
Ridges in the walls of the nasal cavity
Conchae
A curved protuberance at the end of a bone forming part of an articulation
Condyle
A normal or abnormal bending away; an arc
Curvature
Of or pertaining to a sac-like structure
Cystic
Below the surface, or toward the central part of a structure
Deep
Reduction of the harmful properties of a poisonous substance
Detoxification
Farther away from the point of attachment or from the trunk, opposite of proximal
Distal
Posterior, toward the back; opposite of anterior
Dorsal
A prominence or projection
Eminence
Pertaining to a ductless gland that secretes directly into the bloodstream
Endocrine
Pertaining to a gland that delivers its secretion through a duct
Exocrine
Pertaining to the exterior; opposite of internal
External
The lateral, outer opening of the ear or auditory canal
External auditory meatus
A temporarily unossified area on the surface of the cranium of an infant
Fontanel
A shallow depression
Fossa
A secretory organ or structure that can manufacture a secretion
Gland
A gland that has both endocrine and exocrine functions
Heterocrine
The study of tissues
Histology
Beneath; lower; the undersurface of an organ, or a structure below another structure. The opposite of superior
Inferior
Relating to the outer surface of a structure
Integumentary
Within the body; within or on the inside; the opposite of external
Internal
Clusters of cells in the pancreas which produce insulin
Islets of Langerhans (pancreatic islets)
The connection between two bones; an articulation
Joint
Pertaining to the side of the body; away from the median plane
Lateral
Well-defined parts of an organ separated by boundaries
Lobes
The depression in the temporal bone into which the condyle of the mandible fits
Mandibular fossa
A passage or opening through a bone
Meatus
Pertaining to the middle; toward the median plane of the body
Medial
The study of muscles
Myology
Openings of the nose; nostrils
Nares
The partition that divides the nasal cavities
Nasal septum
The study of the nervous system
Neurology
Pertaining to the mouth
Oral
The entrance or outlet of any anatomical structure; an opening
Orifice
Any small bone
Ossicles
Pertaining to, or forming, the wall of a cavity
Parietal
Pertaining to the front of the chest
Pectoral
Located at, or pertaining to, the outer surface of the body or body part; located away from the center
Peripheral
At right angles to another surface
Perpendicular
A number of signifying the acidity or alkalinity of a solution
pH (potential of hydrogen)
An entrance to an organ
Portal
Behind or in back of; refers to the back side of the body or structure; opposite of anterior
Posterior (dorsal)
An anatomic landmark that appears as a blunt projection
Protuberance
Nearest to the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk of the body, the opposite of distal
Proximal
The slightly movable junction of the anterior portion of the os coxae
Pubic symphysis
The smooth muscle around the exit of the stomach into the duodenum
Pyloric sphincter
Referring to the organ system that carries out gas exchange
Respiratory
Pertaining to, or the formation of saliva
Salivary
One of the three pairs of glands that secretes saliva into the mouth
Salivary gland
A wall dividing two cavities
Septum
Blood plasma, excluding the clotting factors; the watery, amber-colored portion of the blood after coagulation occurs
Serum
Bone shaped like a sesame seed, a bone embedded in a tendon
Sesamoid bone
A paranasal cavity within a bone; a dilated channel for venous blood
Sinus
A circular muscle constricting an orifice
Sphincter
Pertaining to or situated near the surface of the body or body part
Superficial
Toward the top of the head; a structure situated above another structure; the opposite of inferior
Superior
Located on the superior portion of the kidney
Suprarenal (adrenal)
Relating to the line of union in an immovable articulation, such as between the cranial bones
Sutural
A joint in which the bones are connected by fibrocartilage
Symphysis
A group of organs arranged for the performance of a specific function
System
A covering or layer
Tunic
Pertaining to the secretion or storage of urine
Urinary
Composed of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, the function of which is to filter wastes from the blood stream
Urinary System
Any one of various membranous structures in a hollow organ or passage that temporarily closes to permit the flow or fluid in one direction only
Valve
Pertaining to or composed of vessels
Vascular
The blood vessels, including arteries, capillaries, and veins, and lymphatics
Vascular system
Located toward the front of the body, anterior
Ventral
A narrow, worm-shaped tube connected to the cecum
Vermiform appendix
Pertaining to the internal organs contained within a cavity
Visceral
Resistance to flow of a liquid
Viscosity
Pertaining to the cheek bone
Zygomatic