Language of Neuroanatomy Part 2 (Latin & Greek Translation for specific terms and stuctures)

Question 1

Amygdala

Answer 1

“almond”

Question 2

Arachnoid

Answer 2

from the Greek “arachne” meaning “spider’s web”

Question 3

Abor vitae

Answer 3

“tree of life”

Question 4

Brachium

Answer 4

“arm:

e.g. bracial plexus

Question 5

“Bulbar”

Answer 5

referring to the brainstem

e.g. “Corticobulbar”

Question 6

Cauda equina

Answer 6

“horse tail”

Question 7

Cephalon

Answer 7

brain

Question 8

Cerebellum

Answer 8

“little brain”

Question 9

Cingulum

Answer 9

“belt” or “griddle”

e.g. cingulate gyrus

Question 10

Clivus

Answer 10

“slide” or “slope”

Question 11

Colliculi

Answer 11

“little hills”

Question 12

Corpus Callosum

Answer 12

“tough body”

Question 13

Cuneus

Answer 13

“wedge”

e.g. cuneate nucleus

Question 14

Dura

Answer 14

“hard”

Question 15

Falx

Answer 15

“sickle”

e.g. Falx cerebri

Question 16

Fasciculus

Answer 16

“little bundle”

Question 17

Fimbria

Answer 17

“fringe”

Question 18

Folia

Answer 18

“leaf”

Question 19

Foramen

Answer 19

“hole”

Question 20

Fornix

Answer 20

“arch”

Question 21

Funiculus

Answer 21

“string”

Question 22

Geniculate

Answer 22

Latin for “little knee”

‘Genu’ is knee or bend

Question 23

Glossus

Answer 23

Greek for tongue

e.g. hypoglossal, glossopharyneal

Question 24

Hippocampus

Answer 24

Lating for “seahorse”

Question 25

Infundibulum

Answer 25

“funnel”

Question 26

Limbus

Answer 26

“ring”

e.g. limbic love

Question 27

Locus Ceruleus

Answer 27

“blue spot”

referring to the blue-black color of the norepinephrine containing neurons in unstained sections

Question 28

Homunculus

Answer 28

“little human”

Question 29

Meninges

Answer 29

From the Greek “Meninx” or “membrane”

Question 30

Nodulus

Answer 30

Latin for “button” or “knot”

Question 31

Operculum

Answer 31

Latin for “covering” or “lid”

Question 32

Pellucidum

Answer 32

From the Latin for “transparent”

Question 33

Pharynx

Answer 33

Greek for “throat”

Question 34

Pineal

Answer 34

“Pine cone”

Question 35

Pons

Answer 35

“bridge”

Question 36

Raphe

Answer 36

from the Greek “seam”

Question 37

Septum

Answer 37

from the Latin, “wall” or “fence”

Question 38

Somatosensory

Answer 38

“body sense”

Question 39

Stria

Answer 39

“stripe”

Question 40

Substantia Nigra

Answer 40

“black substance”

Question 41

Tectum

Answer 41

“roof”

Question 42

Tegmentum

Answer 42

“covering”

Question 43

Temporal

Answer 43

“time”

Question 44

Tomos

Answer 44

Greek for “slice”

e.g. microtome; tomography

Question 45

Trochlea

Answer 45

Pulley (SO4)

superior oblique tendon is anchored in a trochlea

Question 46

Vagus

Answer 46

Greek for “wandering”

The term “vagrant” comes from this as well.

Question 47

Vermis

Answer 47

from the Latin “worm”