Anatomy words that start with the letter -A

apophysis

(anatomy) a natural outgrowth or projection on an organ or part such as the process of a vertebra

articulation

(anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if the articulation allows motion)

adduction

(physiology) moving of a body part toward the central axis of the body

accommodation

(physiology) the automatic adjustment in focal length of the lens of the eye

aponeurosis

Broad, flat, sheet like connective tissue that connects muscles to a bone or another muscle

agger nasi

Latin = eminence of the nose.

alaeque

Latin ala = wing (ala of nose), suffix -que = and, hence levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscles = lifter of the upper lip and ala of nose.

anserinus

Latin anser = a goose, hence like a goose, plural - anserina.

annulus

Outer fibrous rim encircling the eardrum

adrenergic

Pertaining to nerve fibers in the SNS that react to epinephrine, norepinephrine, or dopamine neurotransmitters.

ambiguus

a -um, moving from side to side, doubtful, uncertain, insecure, unreliable; of speech, ambiguous, obscure; n. as subst. uncertainty, doubt, ambiguity. Adv. ambigue, ambiguously, indecisively.

aneurysm

a cardiovascular disease characterized by a sac-like widening of an artery resulting from weakening of the artery wall

adenoid

a collection of lymphatic tissue in the throat behind the uvula (on the posterior wall and roof of the nasopharynx)

ala

a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism

aditus

a general term for the entrance or approach to an organ or a part

ankle

a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus

antrum

a natural cavity or hollow in a bone

anastomosis

a natural or surgical joining of parts or branches of tubular structures so as to make or become continuous

appendage

a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant

area

a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function

acoustic

a remedy for hearing loss or deafness

accessory

a supplementary component that improves capability

anteflexion

abnormal forward bending of the uterus

analgesia

absence of the sense of pain without loss of consciousness

archistriatum

amygaloid nucles

atresia

an abnormal condition in which a normal opening or tube in the body (as the urethra) is closed or absent

arcus

an arc-shaped whitish deposit sometimes seen in the cornea

atrium

any chamber that is connected to other chambers or passageways (especially one of the two upper chambers of the heart)

atrophy

any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)

astrocyte

comparatively large neuroglial cell

antidromic

conducting nerve impulses in a direction opposite to normal

aberrant

deviating from the norm

adrenal

either of a pair of complex endocrine glands situated near the kidney

arytenoid

either of two small cartilages at the back of the larynx to which the vocal folds are attached

anus

excretory opening at the end of the alimentary canal

anhidrosis

failure of the sweat glands

albuginea

fibrous connective tissue investing organ/body part

arcuate

forming or resembling an arch

arachnoid

middle layer of brain & spinal cord

abduction

movement from; verb - abduct.

abducent

moving from, or effecting separation.

allocortex

non laminated external grey matter

afferent

of nerves and nerve impulses

alimentary

of or providing nourishment (food)

auditory

of or relating to the process of hearing

angiography

roentgenographic examination of blood vessels after injection of a radiopaque contrast medium

aspera

rough

allantois

sausage like

amygdaloid

shaped like an almond

analogous

similar or alike in some way; equivalent to

areola

small circular area such as that around the human nipple or an inflamed area around a pimple or insect bite

alveolus

small hallow

appendix

small pouch, which has no function in digestion, attached to the cecum

anatomy

study of the body

axis

the 2nd cervical vertebra

abdomen

the belly, the part of the trunk between thorax and the perineum, adjective - abdominal

albicans

the corpus ___ is what the corpus luteum degenerates to if the oocyte is not fertilized; turns white.

asterion

the craniometric point at the junction of the lamboid suture and the occipitomastoid suture and the parietomastoid suture

acetabulum

the cup-shaped hollow in the hipbone into which the head of the femur fits to form a ball-and-socket joint

ampulla

the dilated portion of a canal or duct especially of the semicircular canals of the ear

auricle

the externally visible cartilaginous structure of the external ear

axilla

the hollow under the arm where it is joined to the shoulder

archipallium

the olfactory cortex of the cerebrum

acromion

the outermost point of the spine of the shoulder blade

apposistion

the process of layign down new bone also the deposistion of the matrix for the hard dentall structure

adhesion

the property of sticking together (as of glue and wood) or the joining of surfaces of different composition

aspect

the visual percept of a region

anteversion

turning forward

azygos

unpaired

aqueduct

water conveyance

alba

white

anconeus

Extends forearm and stabilizes elbow joint

adipose

Fat Tissue

amylacea

Greek amylon = starch, hence, starchy.

archaeopallium

Greek archi = first, and pallium = cloak, hence the cortex which developed first in vertebrates. Often synonymous with hippocampal formation.

archaeocerebellum

Greek archi = first, hence the oldest part of the cerebellum, which is the flocculonodular lobe.

axon

The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

archicerebellum

The vestibulocerebellum is associated with which anatomical division of the cerebellum/

autonomic

This nervous system provides involuntary control over smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands.

auscultate

To examine, by listening (usually with the aid of a stethoscope), to sounds produced by the movement of gases or liquids within the body, as a means of diagnosis

artery

a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body

arm

a human limb

analgesic

a medicine used to relieve pain

agonist

a muscle that contracts while another relaxes

antagonist

a muscle that relaxes while another contracts

anulus

a toroidal shape

arrector

are bundles of involuntary muscles

alveus

cavity

arbor vitae

cerebellar white matter, brings sensory and motor information to and from the cerebellum

aberran

going astray; abnormal

ataxia

inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements

ansa

loop or jug handle

anaesthesia

loss of bodily sensation with or without loss of consciousness

atlas

the 1st cervical vertebra

anterior

toward the front