Dictionary of anatomy

The Dictionary of Anatomy is a comprehensive resource detailing terms and concepts related to human anatomy. It serves as a guide for students, educators, and professionals in the medical field.

A

• Adipose tissue - A type of connective tissue that stores energy in the form of fat and cushions and insulates the body.
• Alveoli (lungs) - Small air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
• Aorta - The largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen.

B

• Biceps brachii muscle - A muscle of the upper arm that acts to flex the elbow and rotate the forearm.
• Bronchi - The main passageways directly attached to the lungs that carry air in from the trachea.
• Buccal cavity - The mouth cavity bounded by the inner surface of the cheeks.

C

• Cardiac muscle - A specialized form of muscle found only in the heart that contracts involuntarily to pump blood throughout the body.
• Cerebellum - A region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control and cognitive functions.
• Cochlea - A spiral-shaped cavity of the inner ear that is essential for hearing.

D

• Dermis - The layer of skin beneath the epidermis that contains sweat and oil glands, hair follicles, blood vessels, and nerve endings.
• Diaphragm (anatomy) - A large, dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the lungs that aids in breathing.
• Duodenum - The first section of the small intestine immediately beyond the stomach, leading to the jejunum.

E

• Epidermis - The outermost layer of skin that provides a waterproof barrier and creates our skin tone.
• Erythrocytes - Red blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues and carbon dioxide as a waste product away from tissues back to the lungs.
• Esophagus - The tube that connects the throat (pharynx) with the stomach.

F

• Femur - The thigh bone, which is the longest and strongest bone in the human body.
• Fibula - The calf bone, which is one of the paired bones of the lower leg.

G

• Gallbladder - A small organ that aids mainly in fat digestion and concentrates bile produced by the liver.
• Gastrocnemius muscle - The muscle that forms half of the calf muscle, performing flexion of the foot at the ankle and flexion at the knee.

H

• Hepatocytes - The main cell type of the liver, constituting 70-85% of the liver's cytoplasmic mass.
• Hypothalamus - A region of the forebrain below the thalamus that coordinates both the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary, controlling body temperature, thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic systems.

I

• Ileum - The final and longest segment of the small intestine.
• Iris (eye) - The thin, circular structure in the eye that controls the diameter and size of the pupil and thus the amount of light reaching the retina.

J

• Joint - Locations in the body where two or more bones meet, such as elbows, knees, and shoulders.

K

• Kidney - One of a pair of organs in the abdominal cavity that excretes urine and regulates the composition of blood.

L

• Larynx - The area of the throat containing the vocal cords and used for breathing, swallowing, and talking.
• Ligament - A short band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissue that connects two bones or cartilages or holds together a joint.

M

• Mitochondrion - Often described as the powerhouses of the cell, they generate the energy that our cells need to do their jobs.
• Myocardium - The muscular tissue of the heart.

N

• Neuron - A specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.
• Nucleus (cell) - A membrane-bound organelle that contains the cell's chromosomes.

O

• Occipital lobe - The visual processing center of the mammalian brain.
• Ovary - The organ in women and female animals where ova or eggs are produced.

P

• Pancreas - A glandular organ in the digestive system and endocrine system of vertebrates.
• Patella - The small bone that is in the front of the knee joint; the kneecap.

Q

• Quadriceps femoris muscle - A large muscle group that includes the four prevailing muscles on the front of the thigh.

R

• Radius (bone) - One of the two large bones of the forearm, the other being the ulna.

S

• Scapula - The shoulder blade, which is the bone that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone).
• Sternum - The long, flat bone located in the central part of the chest, connecting with the ribs via cartilage.

T

• Trachea - The windpipe; a large membranous tube reinforced by rings of cartilage, extending from the larynx to the bronchial tubes.
• Tibia - The shinbone, the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates.

U

• Ulna - The inner and typically longer of the two bones in the human forearm, extending from the elbow to the smallest finger.

V

• Ventricle (heart) - One of two large chambers that collect and expel blood received from an atrium towards the peripheral beds within the body and lungs.
• Vertebra - Each of the series of small bones forming the backbone.

W

• Wrist - The joint connecting the hand with the forearm.

X

• Xiphoid process - A small cartilaginous process of the lower part of the sternum.

Y

• Yellow marrow - Bone marrow that is yellow with fat; found at the ends of long bones in adults.

Z

• Zygomatic bone - Also known as the cheekbone or malar bone, is a paired bone of the human skull.

Also see

• Gray's anatomy
• Glossary of anatomy

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