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 The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.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

tapetum
Latin = a carpet or coverlet; hence the roof of the posterior horn of the lateral ventricle.

tarsus
Greek tarsos = a flat surface; hence the flat part of the foot, and later, the bones of the foot behind the metatarsals, adjective, tarsal.

tectorial
adjective, Latin tectorium = an overlying surface like plaster, a covering or roof.

tectum
Latin = roof; hence the roof of the midbrain.

tegmen
Latin = covering (cf. integument = the skin).

tegmentum
Latin = covering.

tela
Latin = a web; e.g., a fold of pia mater containing a choroid plexus.

telencephalon
Greek telos = end, and enkephalos = brain; hence the rostral part of the developing brain. (With the diencephalon, it makes up the prosencephalon).

temporal
Latin tempus = time; hence, the temporal area of the scalp, where grey hair first appears, marking the progress of ageing.

tendon
Latin tendo = I stretch out.

tenia
Latin = a tape or ribbon.

tensor
Latin tensus = stretched; hence a muscle which produces tension.

tentorium
Latin = tent; tentorium cerebelli.

teres
Latin = rounded, cylindrical.

testicle
Latin testiculus = the male gonad (see testis).

testis
Latin testiculus = the male gonad. From Latin testis = a witness. Under Roman law, no man could bear witness (testify) unless he possessed both testes. Plural - testes.

tetralogy
Greek tetra = four, and logos = discourse, hence a combination of four elements e.g., symptoms or defects.

tetrology
Greek tetra = four, and logos = discourse, hence a combination of four elements or symptoms.

thalamus
Greek = bedroom - derivation obscure, though the posterior end of the thalamus is rounded and named pulvinar = cushion.

theca
Greek theka = a capsule, sheath.

thenar
Greek = palm of hand; hence, the ball of the thumb.

thorax
Greek = the chest, adjective, thoracic.

thrombus
Greek = a clot.

thymus
Greek = sweetbread.

thyroid
Greek thyreos = shield, and eidos = shape or form; hence, shaped like a shield (which shields the glottis).

tibia
Latin = the shin-bone, adjective, tibial.

tonsil
Latin tonsilla = tonsil (e.g., palatine tonsil).

torus
Latin = a bulge.

trabecula
diminutive of Latin trabs = a beam; hence the supporting fibres of a structure.

trachea
Greek tracheia = rough, referring to its corrugations.

tract
Latin tractus = an elongated strand of wool or dough; hence a pathway for nerve fibres.

tragus
Latin = goat, because of the beard-like tuft of hair on its internal aspect.

transverse
perpendicular to the long axis.

trapezium
Greek trapezion = a trapezium - a quadrilateral with 2 sides parallel.

trapezius
Greek trapezion = a trapezium - a quadrilateral with 2 sides parallel; hence, trapezius muscle, the diamond-shape of both trapezii muscles together.

trapezoid
Greek trapezion = a trapezium - a quadrilateral with 2 sides parallel, and eidos = shape or form, hence resembling a trapezium.

triceps
Latin tres = 3, and caput = head; hence a 3-headed muscle.

trigeminal
Latin trigeminus = triplets; hence, cranial nerve V, with 3 large divisions.

trigone
Latin trigonum = a triangle.

triquetral
Latin triquetrus = 3-cornered.

triticea
Latin triticum = a grain of wheat; hence, the tiny cartilage in the lateral thyrohyoid ligament.

trochanter
Greek = a runner; hence, the bony landmark, the greater trochanter, which moves so obviously in running.

trochlea
Greek trochilia = a pulley.

truncus
Latin = trunk (of a tree).

tuber
Latin tuber = a swelling or lump.

tubercle
Latin diminutive of tuber, a small prominence, usually bony.

tuberculum
Latin diminutive of tuber, a small prominence, usually bony.

tuberosity
Latin tuber = a swelling or lump, usually large and rough.

tunica
Latin = shirt; hence a covering.

turbinate
Latin turbo = a child's (spinning) top; hence shaped like a top. Old term for nasal conchi.

tympanum
Latin = a drum.

ulna
Latin = elbow or arm; hence, the medial bone of the forearm.

umbilicus
Latin = the navel.

umbo
Latin = the boss on the centre of a shield, umbo of tympanic membrane.

uncinate
Latin uncinatus = hooked.

uncus
Latin = hook; adjective - uncinate.

ungual
pertaining to Latin unguis = finger-nail.

urachus
Greek ouron = urine, and echein = to hold, hence the canal connecting the bladder and umbilicus in the foetus.

ureter
Greek oureter = passage from kidney to bladder.

urethra
Greek ourethra = passage from bladder to exterior.

uterus
Latin = womb.

utricle
diminutive of Latin uterus = womb.

uvea
Latin uva = grape. The pigmented vascular layer of the eyeball (iris, ciliary body and choroid).

uvula
diminutive of Latin uva = grape.

vagina
Latin = sheath; hence, invagination is the acquisition of a sheath by pushing inwards into a membrane, and evagination is similar but produced by pushing outwards.

vagus
Latin = wandering; hence, cranial nerve X, which leaves the head and neck to traverse the thorax and upper part of the abdomen.

valgus
Latin = knock-kneed.

vallate
Latin vallatus = walled; hence, the large papillae on the tongue which are depressed below the surface and are surrounded by a groove which is itself bounded by a wall.

vallecula
diminutive of Latin vallis = a fossa.

valve
Latin valva = the segment of a folding-door.

valvula
diminutive of Latin valva.

varicocoele
Latin varix = vein and Greek kele = tumour, hernia, hence a varicose condition of the veins of the pampiniform plexus.

varus
Latin = bow-legged.

vas
Latin = vessel (plural = vasa).

vascular
Latin vasculum, diminutive of vas; hence, pertaining to blood vessels.

vastus
Latin = great, vast, extensive.

vein
Latin vena; adjective - venous.

velum
Latin = curtain; veli = of a curtain.

venter
Latin = belly; hence, ventral, pertaining to the belly side.

ventricle
diminutive of Latin venter = a small belly.

vermiform
Latin vermis = a worm, and forma = shape; hence, worm-shaped.

vermis
Latin = worm; hence, the segmented median part of the cerebellum.

vertebra
Latin verto = I turn; hence, one of the movable bones of the backbone which seems to be shaped for rotation.

vertex
Latin = summit; hence the highest point on the skull.

vertical
perpendicular (at a right angle) to the horizontal.

vesica
Latin = bladder, adjective - vesical.

vesicle
diminutive of Latin vesica = bladder, hence a little bladder.

vesicula
diminutive of Latin vesica = bladder; seminal vesicle.

vestibule
Latin vestibulum = entrance hall.

vibrissa
Latin vibrare = to vibrate; hence, the hairs in the nasal vestibule which vibrate in the current of air.

villus
Latin a hair; hence, a vascular, hair-like process, usually projecting from a mucous surface.

vincula
Latin = fetters (singular - vinculum); hence, the delicate vascular synovial bands passing to a tendon in the digits.

visceral
adjective, Latin viscus = an internal organ.

viscus
Latin = an internal organ, plural - viscera, adjective - visceral.

vital
Latin vita = life.

vitelline
Latin vitellus = yolk.

vitreous
Latin vitreus = glassy.

vocal
adjective, Latin vox = voice.

vomer
Latin = plough-share; hence, the bone of the nasal septum which is split in two at its upper edge.

vorticosae
Latin vortex = whirl; hence the whirl-like arrangement of the 4 venae vorticosae leaving the eyeball.