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