Comparative Anatomy Terminology

Front 1

Dorsal

Back 1

toward or relatively near the back


on limbs applies to the upper or front surface of the carpus, tarsus, metapodium and digits (opposite side of the pads)

Front 2

Ventral

Back 2

toward or relatively near the belly.

used on head, neck, thorax and tail

never used for limbs

Front 3

Medial

Back 3

toward or relatively near the medium plane


opposite to lateral

Front 4

Lateral

Back 4

away or relatively farther from the medium plane

opposite to medial

Front 5

Cranial

Back 5

toward the head

on limbs it applies proximal to the carpus and tarsus

Front 6

Rostral

Back 6

toward the nose

applies to the head only

Front 7

Caudal

Back 7

toward the tail

on limbs it applies proximal to the carpus and tarsus

Front 8

Proximal

Back 8

Near the main mass or origin

in limbs and tail, the attached end

Front 9

Distal

Back 9

away from the main mas or origin

in limbs and tail, the free end

Front 10

Ulnar

Back 10

On the side of the forearm in which the ulna is located



Radial = On the side of the forearm in which the radius is located

Front 11

Palmar

Back 11

aspect of forepaw where the pads are located, the surface that contacts the ground

Front 12

Plantar

Back 12

aspect of the HINDpaw on which the pads are located

Front 13

Flexion

Back 13

movement of one bone in relative to another bone in which the angle at joint is reduced

Front 14

Extension

Back 14

movement of bone upon which the angle at joint is increase

Front 15

Abduction

Back 15

movement of a part away from the medial plane

Front 16

Adduction

Back 16

movement of part TOWARD the medial plane

Front 17

Circumduction

Back 17

drawing a circle movement

Front 18

Supination

Back 18

lateral rotation of the appendage so that the palmar and plantar surfaces face medially

Front 19

Tibial and Fibular

Back 19

Corresponding to the sides of the forearm

Tibial = medial
Fibular = lateral

Front 20

Frontal Plane

Back 20

runs horizontal to divide the specimen into dorsal and ventral parts

Front 21

Transverse plane

Back 21

runs from dorsal to ventral and lies at right angles to the longitudinal (length) axis

Front 22

Sagittal plane

Back 22

runs parallel to median longitudinal plane; divides specimen into right and left sides

Front 23

Tendon

Back 23

band of tough, inelastic fibrous tissue that connects a MUSCLE with ts BONY attachment

Front 24

Aponeurosis

Back 24

sheetlike fibrous membrane, resembling a flattened tendon

serves as a fascia to bind muscles together or as a means of connecting muscle to bone

Front 25

Fascia

Back 25

a sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue enveloping, separating, or binding together muscles, organs, and other soft structures of the body

Front 26

Ligament

Back 26

a sheet or band of tough, fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages at a joint or supporting an organ

Front 27

Antagonist

Back 27

a muscle that counteracts the action of another muscle

Front 28

Linea alba

Back 28

a fibrous band that runs vertically along the center of the anterior abdominal wall and receives the attachments of the oblique and transverse abdominal muscles. Also called white line.

Front 29

Condyle

Back 29

large articular prominance

ex. occipital condyles of the skull, condyles of the humerus, of femur and of tibia

Front 30

Cotyloid

Back 30

DEEP articular depression

ex. acetabulum of the hip joint

Front 31

Crest

Back 31

marking on bone
a prominent border or ridge

ex. nuchal crest

Front 32

Epicondyle

Back 32

marking on bone

a prominence just proximal to a condyle

ex. lat. epicondyle of humerus, femur

Front 33

Facet

Back 33

marking on bone

a smooth, flat surface

articular facets are covered with HYALINE cartilage

ex., articular facet of a thoracic vertebra for attachment

Front 34

Fissure

Back 34

a narrow - cleft like - opening between two adjacent bones

ex. typano-occipital fissure

Front 35

Foreamen

Back 35

marking on bone

a opening through a bone

ex. infraorbital foramen, obturator foramen, foramen magnum

Front 36

Fossa

Back 36

marking on bone

a small/med pit

ex. mandibular fossa, olecranon fossa, supraspinous fossa

Front 37

Fovea

Back 37

marking on bone

a shallow, nonarticular depression

ex. fovea capitits on the head of the femur

Front 38

Line

Back 38

marking on bone

a ridge less prominent than a crest

ex. tricipital line of the humerus

Front 39

Notch

Back 39

marking on bone

a depression on the edge of a bone

ex. scapula notch

Front 40

Process

Back 40

marking on bone

any prominent, roughened projection from a bone

ex. crest, spine, trochanter, tubercle, tuberosity etc....

mastoid process of the skull, interparietal process of the skull

Front 41

Spine

Back 41

marking on bone

a sharp, slender process

ex. spine of scapula, spine of a verebra

Front 42

Trochanter

Back 42

marking on bone

a large blunt process found ONLY ON THE FEMUR

ex. greater trochanter

Front 43

Trochlea

Back 43

a pulley shaped structure

ex. trochlea of the femur

Front 44

Tubercle

Back 44

a small, rounded processes

ex. greater tubercle of the humerus

Front 45

Tuberosity or Tuber

Back 45

a large, usually roughened processes

ex. teres major tuberosity