Anatomy Glossary

226 terms

Abdominal Cavity: Abdominal cavity, contains digestive organs.
Abdominal Region: Abdominal region, contains abdominal organs.
Adductor Canal: Canal where thigh vessels pass.
Adrenal Gland: Gland producing stress hormones and hormones regulating mineral balance.
Alveolus: Air sacs in lungs where gas exchange occurs.
Amygdala: Structure responsible for control of emotional responses.
Anterior Cervical Region: Front neck region, contains important vessels and nerves.
Anterior Chamber: Space between cornea and iris.
Anterior Compartment: Region where muscle groups are located in extremities.
Aorta: Largest artery leaving heart.
Aortic Valve: Located between left ventricle and aorta.
Appendix: Small organ playing role in immune system.
Arachnoid Mater: Middle brain membrane.
Atrioventricular Node: Part of heart's electrical conduction system.
Auditory Ossicles: Middle ear bones enabling sound transmission.
Auditory Tube: Connects middle ear to pharynx.
Axillary Fossa: Armpit cavity, contains important vessels and nerves.
Axillary Space: Passage for important vessel-nerve structures.
Brachial Plexus: Nerve network providing motor and sensory innervation of the arm.
Bronchiole: Finer branches of bronchi.
Bronchus: Airways branching from trachea to lungs.
Bursa: Fluid-filled sac reducing friction in joints.
Calcaneus: Heel bone, largest tarsal bone of foot.
Capitate: Largest bone of wrist.
Cardia: Region between esophagus and stomach.
Carotid Artery: Main artery carrying blood to brain.
Carotid Sheath: Sheath surrounding neck vessel-nerve package.
Carpal Tunnel: Canal where median nerve passes in wrist.
Carpus: Group of wrist bones, consists of eight small bones.
Cartilage: Flexible connective tissue.
Cerebellomedullary Cistern: Cistern where cerebrospinal fluid collects.
Cerebellum: Part of brain controlling movement coordination and balance.
Cerebrum: Brain, largest part of the central nervous system. Center of thinking, decision making, memory and consciousness, transmits signals via neurotransmitters.
Cervical Fascia: Neck fascia, important layer in neck surgery.
Cervical Plexus: Neck nerve network, provides innervation of neck region.
Cervical Spinal Cord: Neck spinal cord, contains C1-C8 segments.
Choroid: Vascular layer of eye, provides nutrition and oxygen to retina.
Ciliary Muscle: Changes shape of eye lens.
Clavipectoral Triangle: Important region in axillary surgery.
Cochlea: Snail-shaped structure converting sound waves to nerve signals in inner ear.
Collateral Ligament: Ligament on sides of joints.
Common Bile Duct: Carries bile to duodenum.
Cornea: Transparent front layer of eye.
Corpus Callosum: Nerve fiber bundle connecting brain hemispheres.
Costal Arch: Boundary point in upper quadrant abdominal surgery.
Cruciate Ligament: Ligament stabilizing knee joint.
Cubital Fossa: Area containing important vessel-nerve structures.
Cuboid: Lateral tarsal bone of foot.
Cystic Duct: Connects gallbladder to common bile duct.
Dermis: Lower skin layer.
Diaphragm: Muscle separating chest and abdominal cavities and assisting breathing.
Digital Pulp: Soft tissue at fingertip.
Distal Phalanx: End bone of fingers.
Duodenal Recess: Peritoneal pocket around duodenum.
Dura Mater: Outermost membrane surrounding brain and spinal cord.
Ear: Organ of hearing and balance.
Elbow Joint: Junction of arm and forearm bones.
Epidermis: Upper skin layer.
Epididymis: Canal where sperm cells mature.
Epidural Space: Space surrounding spinal cord.
Esophagus: Muscular organ carrying swallowed food to stomach.
External Ear: Part collecting sound waves.
Eye: Organ of vision.
Facial Nerve: Innervates facial mimetic muscles.
Fallopian Tube: Tube carrying egg cell from ovary to uterus.
Fascia: Connective tissue surrounding muscles.
Femoral Artery: Main blood vessel of leg.
Foramen Magnum: Largest opening in base of skull.
Fornix: Nerve fiber bundle important part of limbic system.
Gallbladder: Organ storing bile produced by liver.
Ganglion: Nerve node where nerve cell bodies gather.
Gastric Body: Middle part of stomach.
Gastric Fundus: Upper part of stomach.
Gingiva: Soft tissue surrounding teeth.
Glossopharyngeal Nerve: Involved in taste and swallowing functions.
Gluteal Region: Hip region, contains gluteal muscles.
Gluteus Maximus: Large gluteal muscle, involved in hip and leg movements.
Hair Follicle: Skin structure where hair develops.
Hamate: One of distal row bones of wrist.
Heart: Muscular organ providing blood circulation. Pumps blood to body through systole and diastole movements.
Hepatic Duct: Carries bile from liver.
Hip Joint: Junction of thigh bone and pelvis.
Hippocampus: Structure involved in memory formation and learning.
Hypoglossal Nerve: Provides motor innervation of tongue.
Hypothalamus: Structure responsible for body temperature and hormone balance control.
Iliac Spine: Reference point in lower abdominal and groin surgery.
Incus: Anvil bone, hearing ossicle between malleus and stapes.
Inguinal Fossa: Region where inguinal hernia occurs.
Inguinal Region: Groin region, passage for important vessels and nerves.
Inner Ear: Part containing hearing and balance receptors.
Insula: Insular lobe, located deep in brain, involved in emotion and autonomic functions.
Intermediate Cuneiform: Middle tarsal bone of foot.
Intermuscular Septum: Wall separating muscles in arm and leg.
Iris: Colored muscle layer surrounding pupil.
Joint: Point where bones meet.
Jugular Foramen: Opening where cranial nerves pass.
Kidney: Paired organ filtering blood and producing urine. Maintains homeostasis through glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption and secretion.
Knee Joint: Junction of thigh and leg bones.
Large Intestine: Organ where water absorption and feces formation occurs.
Larynx: Contains vocal cords and is part of upper respiratory tract.
Lateral Cervical Region: Side neck region, contains muscles and lymph nodes.
Left Atrium: Collects blood from pulmonary circulation. Transfers oxygenated blood to left ventricle.
Left Ventricle: Pumps blood to systemic circulation. Strongest muscle structure of body.
Lens: Focuses image onto retina.
Ligament: Fibrous tissue connecting bones.
Linea Alba: Fibrous structure in middle line of abdominal wall.
Linea Semilunaris: Surgical line at lateral border of rectus muscle.
Liver: Largest internal organ. Functions in metabolism, detoxification, protein synthesis and glycogen storage.
Lumbar Plexus: Lower back nerve network, provides innervation of lower extremities.
Lumbar Spinal Cord: Lower back spinal cord, contains L1-L5 segments.
Lunate: One of proximal row bones of wrist.
Lung: Main organ of respiratory system. Enables gas exchange and regulates oxygenation through ventilation-perfusion balance.
Macula Lutea: Yellow spot, sharpest point of vision in retina.
Malleus: Hammer bone, hearing ossicle attached to eardrum.
McBurney's Point: Classic pain point of appendicitis.
Medial Cuneiform: Medial tarsal bone of foot.
Medulla Oblongata: Brainstem section controlling basic vital functions.
Meninges: Membranes surrounding brain and spinal cord.
Meniscus: Cartilage structure in joints.
Metacarpus: Hand bones, consists of five long bones.
Middle Ear: Part transmitting sound vibrations.
Middle Phalanx: Middle bone of fingers.
Mitral Valve: Located between left atrium and ventricle.
Muscular Lacuna: Passage for thigh muscles.
Nail: Hard structure protecting fingertips.
Nasal Cavity: Space involved in breathing and smell.
Navicular: One of tarsal bones of foot.
Nose: Respiratory and olfactory organ.
Optic Disc: Blind spot, where optic nerve exits retina.
Optic Nerve: Carries visual information from eye to brain.
Oral Cavity: Beginning part of digestive system.
Ovary: Organ producing female reproductive cells.
Palate: Upper wall of oral cavity.
Palmar Region: Palm region, contains hand muscles and tendons.
Palmar Space: Area where infections can spread in hand.
Pancreas: Organ producing digestive enzymes and insulin hormone.
Pancreatic Duct: Carries pancreatic enzymes to duodenum.
Paranasal Sinuses: Air spaces in skull bones.
Parathyroid Gland: Gland producing hormones regulating calcium metabolism.
Pectoral Region: Chest region, contains chest muscles and breast tissue.
Pelvic Cavity: Pelvic cavity, contains reproductive and excretory organs.
Peritoneum: Membrane surrounding abdominal cavity and organs.
Pharynx: Area where digestive and respiratory tracts intersect.
Pia Mater: Innermost membrane surrounding brain and spinal cord.
Pineal Gland: Gland producing melatonin hormone and affecting sleep rhythm.
Pisiform: Smallest bone of wrist.
Pituitary Gland: Gland controlling many hormonal activities in body.
Plantar Region: Sole region, contains foot muscles and tendons.
Pleura: Membrane surrounding and protecting lungs.
Pons: Structure located in middle part of brainstem.
Popliteal Fossa: Back of knee cavity, contains important vessels and nerves. Important area for Baker's cyst examination.
Portal Vein: Carries blood from digestive organs to liver.
Posterior Chamber: Space between iris and lens.
Posterior Compartment: Region where muscle groups are located in extremities.
Prevertebral Space: Space in front of spine, important in neck surgery.
Prevesical Space: Space in front of bladder, important in bladder surgery.
Prostate: Gland producing secretions in male reproductive system.
Proximal Phalanx: First bone of fingers.
Pulmonary Artery: Carries blood from heart to lungs.
Pulmonary Valve: Located between right ventricle and pulmonary artery.
Pulmonary Vein: Carries blood from lungs to heart.
Pyloric Antrum: Last part of stomach.
Pylorus: Sphincter between stomach and duodenum.
Retina: Light-sensitive layer of eye.
Retropubic Space: Space behind pubis, important in prostate surgery.
Right Atrium: Collects blood from systemic circulation. First entry point of venous blood to heart.
Right Ventricle: Pumps blood to pulmonary circulation. Starting point of pulmonary circulation.
Sacral Plexus: Sacral nerve network, provides innervation of pelvis and lower extremities.
Sacral Spinal Cord: Sacral spinal cord, contains S1-S5 segments.
Sartorius Muscle: Tailor's muscle, enables cross movements of the leg.
Scaphoid: Largest proximal row bone of wrist.
Sciatic Nerve: Thickest and longest nerve in the body.
Sclera: White layer of eye, protects eye from external effects.
Sebaceous Gland: Gland lubricating skin and hair.
Semicircular Canal: Part of balance organ.
Shoulder Joint: Junction of arm and shoulder bones.
Sinoatrial Node: Natural pacemaker of heart.
Skin: Organ covering and protecting body.
Small Intestine: Organ where digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs.
Soleus Muscle: Deep calf muscle, plays important role in walking and running.
Spinal Cord: Part of central nervous system within spine. Enables reflex responses and nerve conduction.
Stapes: Stirrup bone, hearing ossicle attached to oval window.
Sternal Angle: Point used to determine location of second rib.
Sternocleidomastoid: Lateral neck muscle, enables rotation and flexion movements of the head.
Stomach: Organ where food is temporarily stored and digested.
Subarachnoid Space: Space containing cerebrospinal fluid.
Suprasternal Notch: Important reference point in neck surgery.
Sweat Gland: Gland regulating body temperature.
Synovial Fold: Important part of intra-articular structures.
Synovial Recess: Extension of joint cavity.
Synovial Sheath: Slippery membrane surrounding tendons.
Talus: Ankle bone, forms ankle joint.
Tarsal Canal: Canal where nerves and vessels pass in ankle.
Tendinous Hiatus: Lower end of adductor canal.
Tendon: Fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone.
Testis: Organ producing male reproductive cells.
Thalamus: Structure involved in transmitting sensory information to brain.
Thoracic Cavity: Chest cavity, contains heart and lungs.
Thoracic Spinal Cord: Chest spinal cord, contains T1-T12 segments.
Thoracolumbar Fascia: Important layer surrounding back muscles.
Thymus: Gland playing important role in immune system development.
Thyroid Gland: Gland producing hormones regulating metabolism.
Tibialis Anterior: Anterior leg muscle, enables dorsiflexion of the foot.
Tongue: Organ of taste and speech.
Tooth: Hard structure breaking down food.
Trachea: Main airway carrying air to lungs.
Trapezium: Greater multangular bone, important in thumb movement.
Trapezius Muscle: Trapezius muscle, involved in head and neck movements.
Trapezoid: Lesser multangular bone, one of distal row bones of wrist.
Tricuspid Valve: Located between right atrium and ventricle.
Trigeminal Nerve: Provides sensory and motor innervation of face and chewing muscles.
Triquetrum: One of proximal row bones of wrist.
Tympanic Membrane: Eardrum, transmits sound waves to middle ear.
Ulnar Canal: Groove where ulnar nerve passes in wrist.
Umbilical Fold: Ligament remnants within peritoneum.
Umbilicus: Important midline marker in abdominal surgery.
Ureter: Tube carrying urine from kidneys to bladder.
Urethra: Tube carrying urine outside body.
Urinary Bladder: Organ temporarily storing urine.
Uterus: Organ where embryo develops.
Vagus Nerve: Longest cranial nerve regulating internal organ function.
Vascular Lacuna: Passage for thigh vessels.
Vena Cava: Main vein carrying blood from body to heart.
Vertebral Canal: Canal containing spinal cord.
Vitreous Body: Eye fluid, maintains eye shape and allows light passage.
Xiphoid Process: Reference point in upper abdominal surgery.