Textbook of General Anatomy
Textbook of General Anatomy
with Systemic Anatomy, Radiological Anatomy, Dissection of Cadaver (Introduction) Case Scenarios & Clinical Applications
Headquarters
Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd.
4838/24, Ansari Road, Daryaganj
New Delhi 110 002, India
Phone: +91-11-43574357
Fax: +91-11-43574314
E-mail: jaypee@jaypeebrothers.com
Overseas Office
J.P. Medical Ltd.
83, Victoria Street, London
SW1H 0HW (UK)
Phone: +44-20 3170 8910
Fax: +44(0)20 3008 6180
E-mail: info@jpmedpub.com
Website: www.jaypeebrothers.com
Website: www.jaypeedigital.com
© 2019, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers
The views and opinions expressed in this book are solely those of the original contributor(s)/author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of editor(s) of the book.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.
All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
Medical knowledge and practice change constantly. This book is designed to provide accurate, authoritative information about the subject matter in question. However, readers are advised to check the most current information available on procedures included and check information from the manufacturer of each product to be administered, to verify the recommended dose, formula, method and duration of administration, adverse effects and contraindications. It is the responsibility of the practitioner to take all appropriate safety precautions. Neither the publisher nor the author(s)/editor(s) assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising from or related to use of material in this book.
This book is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing professional medical services. If such advice or services are required, the services of a competent medical professional should be sought.
Every effort has been made where necessary to contact holders of copyright to obtain permission to reproduce copyright material. If any have been inadvertently overlooked, the publisher will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements at the first opportunity. The CD/DVD-ROM (if any) provided in the sealed envelope with this book is complimentary and free of cost. Not meant for sale.
Inquiries for bulk sales may be solicited at: jaypee@jaypeebrothers.com
Textbook of General Anatomy
First Edition: 2019
Revised Reprint: 2019
9789352705337
Printed at
My husband Dr VH Rao
who has been my inspiration and motivator
The prerequisite for understanding the patient is the strong basic fundamental concepts in the medical curriculum followed by its clinical application. Integration of basic and clinical sciences leads to contextual learning, active rather than passive involvement in the process of learning, which in turn, improves problem-solving skills of medical professionals, which is the single best approach to alleviate the suffering in the diseased.
The Textbook of General Anatomy is conceived with a strong belief to inspire the new entrants into the portals of medicine about the importance of learning basic skills, knowledge and attitude before they embark on reading the important branch of medicine the anatomy, that requires in-depth region-wise knowledge and skills.
This book provides basic knowledge required for understanding the dissection of cadaver and study of various regions of the body adopting integrated approach. This book was prepared as per the syllabus of anatomy recommended by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and other medical-related boards in Asia.
All possible care was taken to ensure that the information provided facilitates understanding of importance of each of the systems in the body and their clinical relevance to motivate the students of medicine on the importance of basics and its application in practicing the profession.
A simple language, easy-to-understand illustrations, flowcharts, tables and presentation in boxes are the unique adoptions in this book to drive the new age generation of students to make it student friendly. These are highly useful for the readers to recall and for competitive examination preparation.
The additional components that are included in this book to enrich the knowledge of readers is the gross anatomical, developmental, microscopic, radiological and clinical case insights in the form of author's own images, personal collections and collection from several clinicians/practitioners.
This book can be used as a self-study guide by students of medical, dental and allied health courses to understand the basic concepts of human anatomy.
As this is a single person's effort, there is every possibility of omissions and commissions that needs the feedback from the anatomists, medical and allied specialists of all generations and above all the students for whose benefit writing of this book is envisioned.
V Subhadra Devi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is prepared with the support of several organizations and individuals who were associated with me for a long time in my career. I thank Dr TS Ravi Kumar, Director-cum Vice-Chancellor, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India, and the faculty of my department, for their continuous support and constructive feedback during the preparation of this book.
I thank the radiologists at Sapthagiri Scan Center, Tirupati and Dr M Sreenivasulu, for facilitating me to obtain several radiological images. I am thankful to Dr T Ram Sharan, Professor, Department of Dermatology, for providing the images of several dermatological conditions. I am extremely thankful to Dr Ranadheer Gupta, Associate Professor, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, SVIMS, Tirupati, for providing the necessary images.
I am thankful to Mr K Thyagaraju, Assistant Professor, for his continuous help and innovative views in preparing and labeling the figures and photographs. I am exceptionally thankful to Mr Ravindra Kumar Boddeti and Mr Kishore Naick, for their support in correcting the manuscript and for extending their views.
I am also thankful to Shri Jitendar P Vij (Group Chairman), Mr Ankit Vij (Managing Director), and MS Mani (Group President) for kindly agreeing to publish this book and the production team, especially Dr Madhu Choudhary (Publishing Head—Education), Ms Pooja Bhandari (Production Head), Ms Sunita Katla (Executive Assistant to Group Chairman and Publishing Manager), Mr Rajesh Sharma (Production Coordinator), Dr Sneha Kashyap (Development Editor), Ms Seema Dogra (Cover Visualizer), Mr Laxmidhar Padhiary, Ms Geeta Rani and Ritika Ahuja (Proofreaders), Ms Uma Adhikari (DTP Operator), and Mr Ankush Sharma (Graphic Designer), for their dedicated work.
I thank all my students who are my continuous source of inspiration to organize the content that will be beneficial for them.
Anatomical Terms—Historical Derivation and Meaning
There are approximately 170,000 medical terms that include names of medicines, medical investigations, medical conditions, medical examination, surgical procedures, body parts, body functions, etc. There are about 8000 frequently used terms.
Learning anatomy is not memorizing the facts. It has to be learnt by understanding the underlying development, evolution, function, and its clinical application. The complexities in learning can be reduced if one understands the meaning of the terms used in describing the various parts, their actions, shapes and relations.
Most of the anatomical terms we use have their roots from Latin or Greek. Memorization without understanding the meaning can lead to stress for the new learners. To facilitate the students certain of the terms are given in alphabetical order.
Anatomical term and its origin L- Latin G- Greek Fr - French | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
Abdomen (L) | Abdere = to hide, Belly | Part of trunk between thorax and perineum |
Abducent nerve (L) | Ab = from; ducere = lead (movement) | 6th cranial nerve that moves a muscle of eyeball (lateral rectus) that moves it away from midline |
Abductor (L) | Ab = from; ducere = lead (movement) | A muscle that moves the part of body/limb away from midline |
Aberrant (L) | Ab = from Errare = to wander Deviation from normal | Aberrant epiphysis |
Accessory (L) | Accedere = to be added to | Accessory nerve: The 11th cranial nerve, functionally added to the vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve) |
Acetabulum | Acetum = vinegar -bulum—suffix signifying instrument | Acetabulum of hip bone cup-shaped part of hip bone |
Acromion (G) | Akron = tip or extremity omos = shoulder | Acromion process of scapula |
Afferent (L) | Bringing towards | Afferent nerves bring information from the peripheral parts of the body to the central nervous system |
Ala (L) | Wing | Ala of sacrum |
Alba (L) | Albicare = white | Linea alba: The white linear fibrous structure that runs in the midline of the abdomen |
Allantois | Allas = a sausage Edios = resemblance | Greek |
Alveolus (L) | Alveus—hollowed out structure | Alveoli of lung |
Amygdala (G) | Amygdale = almond | A structure in the temporal lobe of brain |
Angio (G) | Angeion = a vessel | Angiography, angioplasty |
Artery (G) | Aer = air, terein = to keep | Various arteries of the body |
Articulation (L) | Articulus = joint, -atio, a suffix originally denoting action | Various joints between bones |
Arytenoid (G) | Arytaina = a pitcher, eidos = resemblance | Arytenoid cartilage of larynx |
Atavistic (L) | Atavus = ‘forefather’ + suffix -istic Reversion to something ancestral | Atavistic epiphysis |
Atlas (G) | Atlas—the mythological Titan who supported the world on his shoulders | First cervical vertebra, that supports the head |
Atrium (L) | Atrium = a hall, or an entrance | Right and left atria of heart |
Auditory (L) | Audire = to hear | Latin |
Autonomic (G) | Autos = self, nomos = law | Autonomic nervous system which is self-controlled |
Autopsy (G) | Autos = self, opsi = seen observations on the patient made by the physician himself | A post-mortem examination to find out the cause of death |
Axilla (L) | Axilla = armpit | A region in the upper limb |
Axis (L) | Axis = axle or pivot | Second cervical vertebra |
Azygos (G) | a = not, zygos = a yoke (paired) Any unpaired or unyoked structure | Azygos vein or azygos lobe of lung |
Basilic (G) | Basileus, Basilikē = king, royal | Basilic vein—inner vein of fore arm |
Bipennate (L) | Bis = two, pinna = feather | Bipennate muscle |
Brachial (L) | Belonging to arm | Brachialis—a muscle in the arm |
Branchia (G) | Gills | Branchial arches |
Bregma (G) | Bregma = front of the head | Junction of sagittal and coronal sutures of skull |
Bronchus | Bronchos = windpipe | Greek |
Buccinator (L) | Buccinare = ‘blow a trumpet’ | A muscle in the cheek |
Bulla (L) | Bubble | Ethmoid bulla—a convex bulge beneath the concha of middle meatus of nose |
Bunion (Fr) | Buignon, from buigne = ‘bump on the head’ | A bony bump at the base of great toe. Also called hallux valgus |
Bursa (L) | Bursa = a purse Any closed sac | Synovial bursa |
Cadaver (L) | Cadere = to fall dead body | Cadaveric donor |
Calcaneus (L) | Calcaneus = relating to the heel | A bone of the foot |
Calcar (L) | Spur | Calcarine fissure on the medial surface of brain |
Calyx (G) | Kalyx = husk or cup | Major and minor calyces of kidney—recesses in the pelvis of kidney. |
Cancellous (L) | Cancelli = latticework | Cancellous bone |
Canthus (G) | Kanthos = corner of the eye | Medial/lateral canthus |
Capillary (L) | Capillaries = pertaining to hair | Capillaries—fine branching blood vessels that form a network between arterioles and venules |
Capitulum (L) Caput | Caput = head | Capitulum of humerus Caput succedaneum |
Carina (L) | Keel | Carina of trachea—a point where the trachea divides into the two bronchi |
Carotid (G) | Karoun = stupefy, drowsiness | Carotid arteries |
Carpus (G) | Karpos = wrist | Carpal bones |
Cauda (L) | Cauda = a tail, equina or “horse's tail”—spinal cord | Latin |
Cauda, caudal (L) | Tail | Cauda equina |
Caudate (L) | Caudatus = tail | Caudate nucleus in brain |
Cerumen (L) | Wax | Ceruminous glands |
Cervix (L) | Cervix = neck | Cervix of uterus |
Chiasma (G) | Chiasma = two crossing lines | Optic chiasma |
Chondral | Chondros = cartilage | Endochondral ossification |
Choroid | Chorion = skin, eidos = resemblance | Greek |
Cingulum (L) | Belt, gird | Curved bundle of nerve fibers in each hemisphere of the brain |
Circumflex (L) | Circum = around + flexere = to bend | Circumflex humeral arteries, circumflex nerve |
Cistern (L) | Cisterna = a reservoir or cistern | Subarachnoid cistern |
Claustrum (L) | Lock, enclosed place | A layer of gray matter in cerebrum |
Clavicle (L) | Clavis = a key. Resemblance to the shape | Collar bone |
Clivus (L) | Slope | A slopping bony part at the skull base |
Coccyx (G) | Kokkux = ‘cuckoo’ Resemblance to cuckoo's bill | Small triangular bone at the end of sacrum, formed of fused vestigial vertebrae |
Cochlea (G) | Snail | A part of inner ear |
Comitans (pl. comitantes) (L) | Comitari = to accompany | Venae comitantes |
Commissure (L) | Commissura (cum + mittere) = connection | Commissures of brain |
Condyle (G) | Kondulos = ‘knuckle’ Rounded protuberances at the ends of bones | Condyles of tibia/femur |
Conjunctiva () | Join together | The white of the eye |
Conus (L) | Cone | Conus medullaris |
Coracoid | Korax = Raven (Crow) Korakoeidēs = ‘raven-like’ Resemblance to Raven's beak | Coracoid process of scapula |
Corona (L) | Crown | Coronal suture |
Corpus (pl. corpora) (L) | Body | Corpus callosum Corpora cavernosa Corpus spongiosum |
Corrugator (L) | Corrugare = to wrinkle very much | Corrugator supercilia muscle of the eye Corrugator cutis ani—a thin involuntary muscle around the anus |
Costal (L) | Costa = rib | Costal cartilage Costal chondritis—inflammation of costal cartilage |
Cranium (G), cranial | Kranion = skull, head | Cranial end |
Cremaster (G) | Krema = hang | Cremater muscle of spermatic cord |
Cribriform (L) | Cribrum = a sieve | Cribriform plate of ethmoid bone Cribriform fascia in thigh |
Cricoid (G) | Krikos = ring + eidos = form, likeness | Cricoid cartilage of larynx |
Crista (L) | Crista = crest | Crista terminalis |
Crista galli (L) | Crista = crest + gallus = cock, cock's comb appearance, crest of the rooster | Crista galli—part of ethmoid bone |
Cruciate (L) | Crux = cross | Cruciate anastomosis Cruciate ligaments |
Crypt (G) | Hidden, deep invagination | Tonsillar crypt |
Cuboid (G) | Kuboeides = cube-shaped | Cuboid bone of tarsus |
Cuneiform (L) | Cuneus = wedge, + forma = shape, likeness | Cuneiform bone of tarsus |
Cyst (G) | Kystis = bag, bladder, pouch | Cholecystitis—inflammation of gallbladder |
Dacryon (G) | Dacryon = tear | Dacryocystitis—inflammation of tear sac |
Dartos (G) | Dartos = skinned | Dartos muscle of scrotum |
Decidua, Deciduous (L) | Deciduus (de + cado) = falling off | Deciduous teeth |
Decussate, decussation (L) | Decussation = intersection of two lines | Pyramidal decussation |
Deltoid (G) | Delta = letter in Greek alphabet, triangular-shaped | Deltoid muscle |
Demilune (Fr) | Half-moon | Serous demilunes |
Dendrite (G) | Dendros = tree | Dendrites—short processes of neuron |
Dens (L) | Tooth | Dens of the axis vertebra |
Dentate | Tooth like or serrated edge | Dentate gyrus |
Dentine | Dense bony tissue of tooth | Tooth |
Dermis (G) | Derma = skin | Dermatology |
Detrusor (L) | Detrudere = to push down | Detrusor muscle of urinary bladder |
Diaphragm (G) | Dia = through + phragma = wall | Diaphragm—dome shaped muscular partition separating thoracic and abdominal cavities |
Diaphysis (G) | Dia = between + physis = growth | Diaphysis of long bone |
Diarthrosis (G) | Dia = through + arthroun = to fasten by a joint | Joint that permits free movement |
Digastric (G) | Dis = double + gaster = belly | Digastric muscle |
Diploe, diploid, diplopia (G) | Diploë = fold Diploos = two-fold Diploos = double + opsis + vision | Diploe of skull—two tables of compact bone with intervening spongy bone. Diploid number of chromosomes |
Diverticulum (L) | Devertere = to turn aside | An abnormal pouch opening from a hollow organ like intestine or bladder like Meckel's diverticulum |
Duct (L) | To lead or draw | Parotid duct |
Duodenum (L) | Duodeni = twelve (twelve Finger breadths) | Part of small intestine |
Ectoderm (G) | Ecto = outside + Derma = skin | A germ layer |
Ectopia (G) | Ektopos = distant | Ectopia vesicae |
Efferent (L) | Going away | Efferent nerves send information from the central nervous system to the peripheral structures for producing the desired effects |
Effusion (L) | Effundere = ‘pour out’ | Effusion in knee |
Emboliformis (G) | Embolus = wedge + forma = shape | Emboliform nucleus of cerebellum |
Emissary (L) | E = out + mittere = to send escape channels | Emissary veins connect intracranial dural venous sinuses with extracranial veins |
Endo (prefix) (G) | Within | Endoneurium, endoderm, endometrium |
Ependyma (G) | Ependuein = ‘put on over’ | Ependymal covering of neural tube |
Epicondyle (G) | Upon a knob | Epicondyles of femur |
Epidermis (G) | Upon dermis | Epidermis in relation to skin |
Epididymis (G) | Upon testis | Epididymis is a male reproductive organ |
Epigastrium (G) | Upon belly | Over the region of stomach |
Epiglottis (G) | Upon tongue | Epiglottis is a cartilage of larynx |
Epiphysis (G) | epi = ‘upon, in addition’ + phusis = ‘growth’ | Epiphyseal plate of cartilage |
Epithelium (G) | Upon nipple | Epithelial tissue |
Erector (L) | To stand up | Erector spinae muscle |
Ethmoid (G) | Sieve-like | Ethmoid bone |
Falciform (L) | Sickle shape | Falciform ligament |
Fasciculus (L) | A passage | Fasciculus gracilis |
Femur (L) | Thigh | Femur is a thigh bone |
Fenestra (L) | Window | Fenestra vestibuli |
Fetus (L) | Offspring | Fetal medicine |
Fibula (L) | Needle of brooch | A bone of the leg |
Fimbria (L) | A fringe or border | Fimbria of uterine tube |
Fissure (L) | A cleft | Fissures of cerebellum |
Fistula (L) | A pipe | Anal fistula |
Flocculus (L) | A tuft of wool | Flocculonodular lobe of cerebellum |
Folium (L) | Leaf | Cerebellar folia |
Fontanelle (L) | Small fountain | Fontanelle of skull |
Foramen (L) | Hole | Foramina of skull |
Fornix (L) | Arch | Fornices of cerebrum |
Fossa (L) | Ditch | Cranial fossa |
Fovea (L) | Fovea = small pit | Fovea centralis |
Frenulum (L) | Fraenum = a little bridge | Frenulum of tongue |
Frontal (L) | Frons, frontis = forehead, brow | Frontalis muscles, frontal bone |
Fundus (L) | Fundus = bottom | Fundus of stomach, fundus of gallbladder, fundus of uterus |
Funiculus (L) | Rope | Funiculus is a bundle of nerve fibers enclosed in connective tissue sheath and forming tracts of spinal cord |
Fusiform (L) | Spindle shaped | Fusiform shaped muscle |
Genu (L) | Genu = knee | Genu valgus (Knock knee), genu varum (Bowing at the knee) |
Glottis (G) | Tongue | Part of larynx between vocal cords |
Glenoid (G) | Glene = socket + eidos = form, likeness | Glenoid cavity of scapula |
Gracilis (L) | Gracilis = thin | Gracilis muscle |
Glomerulus (L) | Glomus = a ball | Tuft of capillaries in relation to Bowman's capsule of nephron |
Hepatic (L) | Hepar = liver | Hepatitis (inflammation of liver) |
Hernia (L) | Protrusion | Inguinal hernia |
Hydrocele, Hydrocele (G) | Hydor = water + koilos = hollow | Fluid-filled sac around testis |
Hymen (G) | Hymen = membrane | Membrane covering the vaginal orifice partially |
Ileum (L) | Final part of small intestine | Ileal arteries |
Ilium (L) | Flank | Hip bone |
Indusium (L) | A tunic | Indusium griseum—a gray tunic covering the corpus callosum of brain |
Inguinal (L) | Groin | Inguinal canal, inguinal lymph nodes |
Inion (G) | Nape of neck | Projecting part of occipital bone |
Innominate (L) | In = ‘not’ + nominatus = ‘named’ Un named | Innominate bone—hip bone |
Isthmus | Narrow | Isthmus of fallopian tube |
Jejunum (L) | Empty or fasting | Part of small intestine |
Joint (L) | To join | Hip joint, knee joint |
Jugular (L) | Throat | Jugular vein |
Latissimus (L) | Broadest | Latissimus dorsi—broadest muscle of the back |
Lumbricals (L) | A worm (muscle) | Lumbrical muscles |
Limbus (L) | Border | Limbus fossa ovalis |
Limen (L) | Threshold | Limen insula |
Lingual (L) | Lingua = tongue | Lingual tonsil |
Lingula (L) | Small tongue | Lingula of cerebellum |
Locus (L) | Place | Locus ceruleus |
Lunate (L) | Luna = moon | Lunate bone of carpus |
Luteum (L) | Luteus = yellow | Corpus luteum—yellow body |
Macula (L) | Macula = spot | Macular degeneration |
Malleus (L) | Hammer | Malleus—an ear ossicle |
Mammary (L) | Mamma = breast | Mammary gland |
Mammillary (L) | Mammillaris (mamma, -ae), little breast | Mammillary bodies |
Mandible (L) | Mando = I chew | Mandible—bone of the chin |
Manubrium (L) | Handle or hilt of a weapon | Manubrium of sternum |
Meniscus (L) | Menis = crescent, half-moon | Menisci of knee joint |
Merocrine (G) | Meros = portion + krinein = to separate | Merocrine gland |
Mesentery (G) | Mesos = midway between + enteron = gut | Fold of peritoneum in relation with small intestine |
Mesocolon (G) | Mesos = middle + kolon = great gut | Fold of peritoneum in relation with colon |
Mesosalpinx (G) | Mesos = middle + salpinx = tube | Fold of peritoneum in relation with uterine tube |
Metaphysis (G) | Meta = after + physis = growth | Metaphysis of a long bone |
Neurenteric (G) | Neuron = nerve + enteron = gut | Neurenteric canal |
Neurilemma (L) | Neuron = nerve + lemma = husk, sheath | Covering nerve |
Obturator (L) | A stopper of | Obturator nerve, obturator foramen |
Occiput (L) | Back of head | Occipital bone |
Oculomotor (L) | Oculus = eye + moto = mover | Oculomotor nerve |
Odontoid (G) | Odous = tooth + eidos = shape, likeness | Odontoid process of axis vertebra |
Olecranon (G) | Point of elbow | Olecranon process of |
Oligo (G) | Few (G) | Oligodendrocyte |
Operculum (L) | Lid/cover | Opercula of insula in brain |
Otic (G) | Ear | Otitis (inflammation of ear) |
Pachymeninx (G) | Thick covering | Dura mater covering the brain |
Pallium (L) | Clock or mantle | Neopallium—cerebral cortex |
Pampiniform (L) | Tendril | Pampiniform plexus of veins |
Panniculus (L) | A piece of cloth, a layer of membrane | Panniculus carnosus |
Perforator (L) | To bore through | Perforating veins |
Portal (L) | Porta = gate | Portal vein enters the gate of the liver |
Perichondrium (L and G) | Peri = ‘around’ + Greek khondros = ‘cartilage’ | Covering of cartilage |
Perineum (G) | Swim around penis | It is an area between anus and scrotum in males and between anus and vulva in females |
Periosteum (G) | Peri = ‘around’ + osteon = ‘bone’ | Outer covering of bone |
Phallus (G) | Phallos = penis | Male copulatory organ |
Piriform (L) | Pear shaped | Piriform fossa in relation to larynx Piriformis muscle |
Pisiform (L) | Pisum = a pea + forma = form | Pisiform bone—carpal bone |
Platysma (G) | Flat | Subcutaneous muscle in the neck |
Pons (L) | Pons = a bridge | Part of brainstem |
Porta (L) | porta = gate | Porta hepatis |
Proctodeum (G) | Proktos = anus + hodaios = pertaining to a way | Proctoscopy |
Profundus (L) | Pro = “before” + fundus = “the bottom” | Profunda femoris muscle—deep muscle |
Promontory (L) | Prominence | Sacral promontory |
Pronation (L) | Pronus = leaning forwards | Pronator teres muscle |
Prostate (G) | Pro = before, the root sta = stand, and the suffix -tes. In ancient Greece prostate means a guard or protector— one who stood before | The prostate gland is an accessory gland of male reproductive system and it stands in front of the urinary bladder. |
Quadratus (L) | Quadratus = a square in shape | Quadratus muscle |
Quadriceps (L) | Quattuor = four + caput = head | Quadriceps muscle |
Retroversion (L) | Retro = backward + versio = turning | Turning backward |
Rima (L) | Rima = cleft | Rima glottides |
Risorius (L) | Risus = laughter | Muscle of face |
Rotator (L) | Rotare = to whirl about | Rotator cuff of shoulder |
Rugae (L) | Ruga = wrinkle | Gastric rugae |
Saphenous (L) | Saphenes = clear or manifest | Saphenous vein |
Sartorius (L) | Sartor = a tailor | Muscle: It is used in squatting position by old fashioned tailors, with the legs crossed |
Scapula (L) | Scapula = shoulder blade. In ancient times it was used in the plural to mean “the back” | A bone at the back of shoulder |
Sella turcica (L) | Sella = saddle and turcica = Turkish | Sella turcica of sphenoid bone—saddle-shaped prominence of the sphenoid bone |
Sigmoid (G) | Sigma = the Greek letter S + eidos = resemblance. In earlier times the letter sigma was written as a single curve (now the letter C) | Sigmoid colon—curved part of large intestine Sigmoid venous sinus—in skull |
Sesamoid (L) | Sesamen = sesame plant, or seed + eidos = shape, likeness | Sesamoid bone—patella |
Sphenoid (G) | Sphen = wedge, and eidos = resemblance | Sphenoid bone |
Styloid (G) | Stylos = pillar + eidos = resemblance | Styloid process of temporal bone |
Subcutaneous (L) | Adjacent to skin | Subcutaneous fat |
Sural (L) | Calf | Sural nerve |
Synarthrosis (G) | Sun=together+ arthrosis = joining | Immovable, fixed joints |
Syndesmosis (G) | Sundesmos = binding, fastening | Tibiofibular syndesmosis |
Taenia, Tenia (L) | Taenia = band, ribbon | Taenia coli |
Talipes (L) | Talipes = club foot; from talus = ankle, and pes = foot | Talipes equinovarus of foot |
Tarsus (G) | Tarsos = sole of the foot | Tarsal bones |
Tegmen, Tegmentum (L) | Tegmen = covering | Tegmen tympani, tegmentum of midbrain |
Tendon (L) | Tendere = to stretch | Biceps tendon |
Tentorium (L) | Tentorium = tent | Tentorium cerebelli |
Teres (L) | Tero = I grind, rub | Teres major muscle |
Terminalis (L) | Terminare = to limit | Laminal terminalis |
Theca (L) | Theca = envelope, sheath | Theca interna, theca externa in relation with ovarian follicle |
Thyroid (G) | Thyreos = a shield+ eidos = resemblance | Thyroid gland |
Trachea (G) | Tracheia = windpipe | Airway |
Triceps (L) | Tres = three + caput = head | A muscle of arm with three heads |
Trigeminus (L) | Trigeminus = born three together | Trigeminal nerve is the 5th cranial nerve |
Triquetrum (L) | Triquetrus = three-cornered, triangular. | Bone of the hand |
Trochanter (G) | Trochanter = a runner; derived from trochos = a wheel | A process below the neck of femur |
Trochlea (L) | Trochlea = pulley | Trochlea of humerus Trochlear nerve—4th cranial nerve that supplies the muscle that traverses through a pulley |
Tuberosity (L) | Tuber = knob or localized collection + osity = condition | Tuberosity of tibia |
Tunica (L) | Undergarment | Tunics of eye, blood vessel |
Tympanic (L) | Tympanum = drum | Tympanic membrane |
Umbilicus (L) | Navel | Umbilical hernia |
Uncus (L) | Uncus = a hook | A structure in brain |
Uterus (L) | Uterus = womb | Female reproductive organ |
Uvea, Uvula (L) | Uva = grape | Uveal tract Uvula |
Vagina (L) | Vagina = sheath | A muscular tube extending from the external genitalia to the cervix of the uterus |
Vagus (L) | Vagus = wandering | Vagus nerve—the 10th cranial nerve |
Vallate (L) | Vallum = rampart, walled. | Circumvallate papillae |
Vallecula (L) | Vallus = fossa | Vallecula |
Vas (L) | Vessel | Blood vessels/lymph vessels Vas deferens—male reproductive tube |
Vasa vasorum (L) | Vessels of the vessels | Seen in the walls of aorta and inferior vena cava |
Vermiform | vermis = worm, forma = form | Vermiform appendix |
Vitelline (L) | Vitellus = yolk of egg | Vitelline arteries |
Vitreous (L) | Vitreus = glassy/transparent | Vitreous humor of the eye in vitro, meaning in a glass receptacle, in contrast to in vivo, meaning in the living body |
Volar (L) | Vola = palm | Palm of hand |
Xiphoid (G) | Xiphos = sword, eidos = resemblance | Xiphoid process of sternum |
Zona, Zonula (L) | Zona = belt, girdle. | Zona pellucida |
Zygoma (G) | Zygoma = bolt or bar | Zygomatic bone—cheek bone |
Zygote (G) | Zugōtos = ‘yoked’ | A fertilized ovum |