Copy of `University of Sydney - Anatomy glossary`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

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

lemniscus
Greek lemniskos = a band or ribbon (applied to nerve fibres).

lens
Latin = lentil - a transparent body with one or both surfaces curved to re-direct light rays, adjective - lentiform or lenticular.

lentiform
adjective, Latin lens = lentil, and forma = shape, hence, lentil-shaped.

leptomeninx
Greek lepto = delicate, and meninx = membrane. Usually refers to pia and arachnoid. Plural leptomeninges.

levator
Latin = elevator.

lien
Latin = spleen, adjective - lienal.

ligament
Latin ligamentum = bandage, usually tying parts to each other, adjective - ligamentous.

limbic
adjective, Latin limbus = a margin, usually curved.

limbus
Latin = a margin, usually curved, hence, limbus of cornea, its circular junction with the sclera, adjective - limbic; limbic lobe of the brain comprises structures which encircle the junction of the diencephalon and telencephalon.

limen
Latin = a threshold, hence, subliminal - below threshold.

linea
Latin = line.

lingua
Latin = tongue, adjective, lingual.

lingula
diminutive of lingua, hence, a little tongue, adjective - lingular.

lissencephalic
adjective, Greek lissos = smooth, hence, a cerebrum lacking sulci.

lobule
diminutive of lobus.

lobulus
Latin diminutive of lobus, hence, a lobule.

lobus
Greek lobos = lobe, adjective - lobar.

locus
Latin a place (cf. location, locate, dislocate).

loin
Latin lumbus - the part of the back between the ribs and the hip bone.

longissimus
superlative of Latin longus = long, hence, the longest.

longitudinal
adjective, Latin longitudo = length, hence, lengthwise.

longus
adjective, Latin = long, hence, longissimus (superlative) = the longest.

lucidum
Latin lucidus = clear.

lumbar
adjective - see loin.

lumbrical
Latin lumbricus = worm, hence worm-shaped muscles of the palm.

lumen
Latin = opening, hence the space within a tube.

lunate
adjective, Latin luna = moon, hence, crescentic.

luteum
adjective, Latin = yellow.

lymph
Latin lympha - clear spring water.

lymphatic
a vessel carrying lymph.

macroscopic
adjective, Greek makros = large, and skopein = to examine; hence, large enough to be seen with the naked eye, e.g., pertaining to gross anatomy.

macula
Latin = spot (cf. immaculate - spotless); adjective - macular.

magna
Latin = great.

malleolus
diminutive of Latin malleus = hammer, adjective - malleolar.

malleus
Latin = a hammer.

mamma
Latin = breast; adjective - mammary.

mammilla
diminutive of mamma; adjective - mammillary.

mandible
Latin mandere = to chew; hence, the movable lower jaw; adjective - mandibular.

manubrium
Latin = handle; adjective - manubrial.

manus
Latin = hand (cf. manual).

margin
the edge or border of a surface; adjective - marginal.

masseter
Greek = chewer; adjective - masseteric.

mastication
Latin masticere = to chew.

mastoid
adjective, Greek mastos = breast or teat, and eidos = shape or form.

matrix
Latin = a female animal used for breading, womb; refers to ground substance of connective tissue, and nail bed.

maxilla
Latin = jaw-bone; now used only for the upper jaw; adjective - maxillary.

meatus
Latin = passage; adjective - meatal.

medial
adjective, Latin medius = middle; hence, nearer the median plane.

median
Latin medianus = in the middle.

mediastinum
derivation doubtful, but possibly from Latin medius = middle, and stans = standing; hence, a median vertical partition, adjective - mediastinal.

medius
Latin = middle.

medulla
Latin = marrow; applied to part of an organ deep to its cortex, and to the spinal cord and adjoining part of brain stem, which may have been thought to be the marrow of the vertebral column, adjective - medullary pertains to the medulla of an organ or medulla oblongata.

membrane
Latin membrana = a thin sheet; adjective - membranous.

meninges
plural of Greek meninx = a membrane; adjective - meningeal.

meniscus
Latin menis - a small crescent.

mental
adjective - Latin mentum = chin; or Latin mens = mind.

mesencephalon
Greek mesos = middle, and enkephalos = brain; adjective - mesencephalic.

mesenchyme
Greek mesos = middle, and chymos = juice; the embryonic connective tissue of the mesoderm.

mesentery
Greek mesos = middle, and enteron = intestine; hence, the peritoneal fold which tethers the centrally situated small intestine; adjective - mesenteric.

mesial
adjective - medial, used in dental anatomy.

mesoderm
Greek mesos = middle, and derma = skin; the middle germ layer of the embryo.

mesosalpinx
Greek mesos = middle, and salpinx = tube; hence, the intermediate part of the broad ligament.

metacarpus
Greek meta = after, and karpus = wrist; adjective - metacarpal.

metaphysis
Greek meta = after, and physis = growth; hence, the end of the shaft of a bone alongside the epiphysial or growth cartilage; adjective - metaphysial.

metatarsus
Greek meta = after, and tarsos = ankle; hence, the bones beyond the tarsus, adjective - metatarsal.

metencephalon
Greek meta = beside, behind, or after, and enkephalos = brain; hence the parts of the hindbrain immediately caudal to the fore- and midbrain, namely the pons and cerebellum.

metopic
adjective, Greek metopon = forehead.

micturition
Latin micturare = to desire to pass urine.

minimus
Latin = smallest.

miosis
Greek meiosis = lessening; hence, pupillary constriction; adjective - miotic.

modality
Latin modus = mode; hence, a form of sensation - e.g. touch, pain, sight.

modiolus
Latin a cylindrical borer with a serrated edge; hence, like a screw; the central stem of the bony cochlea.

molar
adjective, Latin mola = mill.

mons
Latin = mountain; mons pubis, the soft tissue bulge over the female pubes.

morphology
Greek morphos = form, and logos = word or relation; hence, study of pattern of structure; adjective - morphological.

multifidus
Latin multus = much, and findere = to split.

muscle
Latin musculus, diminutive of Greek mus = mouse, the body and head of which represent the main belly of a muscle, and the tail, the tendon.

mydriasis
Greek = dilatation of the pupil.

myelencephalon
Greek myelos = marrow (= Latin medulla), and enkephalos = brain; hence the medulla oblongata. See also medulla.

myelin
Greek myelos = marrow; hence, white fatty sheath of an axis cylinder; adjective - myelinated.

myenteric
Greek mys = muscle, and enteron = intestine, hence, pertaining to the muscle of the gut.

mylohyoid
Greek mylo = molar, and hyoeides = U-shaped.

myocardium
Greek mys = muscle, and kardia = heart, adjective - myocardial.

myotome
Greek mys = muscle, and tome = a cutting or division; hence, a group of muscles innervated by a single spinal segment.

nares
plural, Latin naris = nostril.

naris
Latin = nostril, plural - nares.

nasal
adjective, Latin nasus = nose; hence, pertaining to the nose.

natal
adjective, Latin natus = born; hence, relating to birth.

navicular
adjective, Latin navicula = a little ship (cf. naval); hence, the tarsal bone which is concave posteriorly, resembling a boat.

neo-
Greek prefix - neos = new.

neonatal
adjective, Greek neos = new, and Latin natos = born; hence, new-born.

neopallium
Greek neos = new, and Latin pallium = cloak; hence, the cerebral cortex which developed more recently than the archipallium or olfactory cortex.

nerve
Latin nervus = tendon; later reserved for a peripheral bundle of fibres which conduct impulses from or to the central nervous system.

neural
adjective, Greek neuron = nerve.

neuroglia
Greek neuron = nerve, and gloia = glue; hence, the connective tissue of the central nervous system; adjective - neuroglial.

neurohypophysis
or posterior lobe of hypophysis - Greek hypo = down, and physis = growth; hence, the posterior part of the hypophysis evaginated downwards from the diencephalon, and its stalk.

neurolemma
Greek neuron = nerve, and lemma = peel or rind; hence, the covering layer of a nerve.

neuron
Greek = nerve; refers to the nerve cell body, with its axon and dendrites; adjective - neuronal.

nigra
Latin niger = black, dark.

node
Latin nodus = knot.