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University of Sydney - Anatomy glossary Category: Sciences > Anatomy glossary Date & country: 25/01/2011, AU Words: 1008

hamstrings
the tendons of the muscles of the ham - i.e. of the back of the thigh - felt behind the knee when the leg is flexed against resistance (semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris).

hamulus
diminutive of Latin hamus = hook.

haustra
Latin = saccules.

helicine
Greek helix = a coil, spiral.

helicotrema
Greek helix = a coil, and trema = hole, hence the aperture at the apex of the bony cochlea whereby scala vestibuli communicates with scala tympani.

helix
Greek = coil.

hemianopia
Greek hemi = half, an = negative, opsis = vision, hence loss of half of the field of vision.

hemianopsia
Greek hemi = half, an = negative, opsis = vision, hence loss of half of the field of vision.

hemiparesis
Greek hemi = half, paresis = paralysis, used usually to denote weakness rather than paralysis.

hemiplegia
Greek hemi = half, plegia = stroke, hence, paralysis of one half of the body.

hemisphere
Greek hemi = half, sphaira = ball, hence, half of a sphere.

hepar
Greek = liver, adjective - hepatic.

hepatic
adjective, Greek hepar = the liver.

hernia
Latin = a protrusion, adjective - hernial.

hiatus
Latin = a gap (like that between some people's ears).

hilum
Latin = the point of attachment of a seed, hence the part of an organ where the vessels and nerves are attached; adjective - hilar.

hindbrain
the part of the brain below tentorium cerebelli, comprising medulla oblongata, pons and cerebellum.

hip
the lateral prominence of the hip bone and greater trochanter.

hippocampus
Greek hippokampos = a sea-horse, hence, the curled shape of the hippocampus in coronal section; adjective - hippocampal.

homologous
adjective, Greek homos = same, and logos = word, hence a part with similar morphology but different function.

horizontal
adjective - parallel to the horizon.

horn
a projection, often pointed.

humerus
Latin = the arm-bone.

humour
Latin humor = liquid, hence the aqueous and vitreous humour of the eyeball.

hyaline
adjective, Greek hyalos = glassy.

hydrocephalus
Greek hydor = water, koilos = head. (cf. cephalic).

hymen
Greek = membrane; across the virginal vagina.

hyoid
adjective, Greek = U-shaped.

hyperacusis
Greek hyper = over, and akousis = hearing, hence excessive sensitivity to sound.

hypoglossal
adjective, Greek hypo = under, and glossa = tongue.

hypophysis
Greek hypo = down, physis = growth, hence, a downgrowth (from the brain). However, this is not the whole truth. Part is an upgrowth from the pharynx, adjective - hypophysial.

hypothalamus
Greek hypo = under, and thalamus (q.v.), refers to part of diencephalon.

ileum
Greek eilein = twisted. adjective - ileal.

ilium
Latin the bone of the flank, adjective - iliac.

ima
adjective, Latin = lowest, hence artery thyroidea ima.

impar
Latin = unpaired.

incisor
Latin incisum = cut up.

incisura
Latin = notch.

incus
Latin = anvil, hence the anvil-shaped ossicle of the middle ear.

index
Latin = a pointer, hence, the fore-finger.

indicis
genitive of Latin index = a pointer, hence, of the fore-finger.

indusium
Latin = tunic.

inferior
adjective, Latin = lower down, hence, farther from the head end.

infra
Latin = below.

infundibulum
Latin = funnel.

inguinal
adjective, Latin inguen = groin.

inhibition
Latin inhibitus = restrained, hence, reduction of the excitability of a synapse.

innervate
Latin in = into, and nervus = nerve, hence, to supply a nerve to a part.

innominate
Lain in = not, and nomen = name, hence, without a name.

insert
Latin insertio = to join into, implant, hence, to attach; noun - insertion.

inspection
Latin inspectus = examined, hence, visual examination.

insula
Latin = island.

integument
Latin in = on, tegmen = roof, hence the skin coat.

intercalated
adjective, Latin inter = between, and calatum = inserted, hence interposed.

interdigitate
Latin inter = between, and digitus = a digit. Hence, to interlock like fingers.

internal
adjective, Latin internus = inward, hence, nearer the inside.

internuncial
adjective, Latin inter = between, nuncius = messenger.

interstitial
adjective, Latin inter = between, and sistum = set, hence, set between.

intestine
Latin intestinum = the digestive tube beyond the stomach.

intima
Latin = innermost.

intra
Latin = within.

intrafusal
adjective, Latin intra = within, fusus = spindle.

intrinsic
adjective, Latin = on the inside.

introitus
Latin intro = within, and ire = to go, hence, an orifice or point of entry to a cavity or space.

inversion
Lain in = in, and vertere = to turn, hence to turn inward, inside out, upside down.

ipsilateral
Latin ipsi = self, the same, and latus = side, hence on the same side.

iris
Latin = a rainbow.

ischium
Greek ischion = socket, because the ischium contributes more than either the ilium or pubis to the acetabulum.

iso
Greek = equal.

isthmus
Greek isthmos - a narrow passage.

jejunum
Latin jejunus = empty, adjective - jejunal.

joint
the meeting of 2 or more bones or cartilages, at which movement is possible.

jugular
adjective, Latin jugulum = neck.

jugum
Latin = yoke (cf. conjugal).

juxta
Latin = near.

keratin
Greek keras = horn.

kinocilium
Greek kineo = to move (cf. kinetic), and cilium Latin = eyelash, hence protoplasmic thread of hair process in cupula of crista ampullaris of a semicircular duct.

knee
the junction of the thigh and the leg.

koniocortex
Greek konis = dust, and Latin cortex = bark, hence, sensory cortex containing mostly granular layers.

kyphosis
Greek kyphos = bent or bowed forward.

labium
Latin = lip (plural labia), adjective - labial.

labrum
Latin = rim.

labyrinth
Greek labyrinthos = maze, adjective - labyrinthine.

lacerum
Latin lacer = mangled, hence, lacerated, torn.

lacrimal
adjective, Latin lacrima = a tear (drop).

lactation
Latin lactans = suckling. Hence, the act of secreting milk.

lacteal
adjective, Latin lac = milk, hence, resembling milk.

lactic
adjective, Latin lac = milk.

lactiferous
adjective, Latin lac = milk, and ferre = to carry.

lacuna
Latin lacus = lake, hence, a small pond or gap, adjective, lacunar.

lambda
Greek letter representing a capital 'L' and written as an inverted V.

lambdoid
adjective, Greek lambda, representing a capital 'L' and written as an inverted V; hence, like that letter.

lamella
diminutive of Latin lamina = plate; hence, a small plate.

lamina
Latin = plate, either a layer of nervous tissue, like the laminae of the lateral geniculate body, or a connective tissue membrane, like lamina cribrosa sclerae, or of bone, as in vertebral laminae; hence, laminectomy = lamina + Greek ektome = excision - excision of the vertebral laminae to give access to the spinal cord; adjective - laminar.

lanugo
Latin lana = wool, hence, the fine downy hair on the skin of the foetus, or cheeks.

larynx
Greek = voice-box, adjective - laryngeal.

lata
Latin latus = side.

lateral
adjective, Latin latus = side, hence, nearer the side.

latissimus
superlative of adjective, Latin latus = wide, hence, latissimus dorsi muscle, the widest muscle of the back; earlier name was anitersor - wiper of the anus.

leg
the lower limb between the knee and the ankle.