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100 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
pyriform
L. pirum = a pear, and forma = shape or form.
Hence describing any pear-shaped structure.
quadratus
L. quadratus = a square in shape.
Applied to the several square muscles.
radius
L. radius = spoke of a wheel.
Found in the writings of Galen applied to the bone now so named.
rectum
L. rectus = straight.
Galen so named the terminal bowel because he found it straight in other animals.
rectus
L. rectus = straight.
renal
L. ren = kidney.
It is the adjective form of ren.
retina
L. rete = a net.
This is probably the correct derivation, although there is no truly net-like structure in the retina.
It probably came about as follows: Galen applied to this structure the Greek word amphiblestron, which had two meanings - a surrounding coat and a fisherman’s net.
He used the word in the first sense; but when it was translated into Latin, the translator chose the second meaning.
retroversion
L. retro = backward, and versio = turning.
Therefore a turning backward.
rhomboid
Gr. rhombus = a lozenge, and eidos = resemblance.
Rhomboid denotes a parallelogram with oblique angles and unequal sides.
The rhomboid muscle is so named because of its shape.
risorius
L. risor = one who laughs.
The risorius muscle draws the angle of the mouth outward.
sacrum
L. sacer = sacred.
Sacrum is the neuter form of sacer, and was applied to this pelvic keystone because this bone was thought to survive after death and form a part of the body after resurrection.
sagittal
L. sagitta = arrow.
Use to mean (1) shaped like an arrow, (2) straight, and (3) running in an antero-posterior direction.
salpinx
Gr. salpinx = a trumpet.
this is one of the words which the Greeks adopted from Crete.
Applied to structures shaped like a trumpet or tuba.
The combining form, salpingo-, appears chiefly in gynecological terms.
saphenous
Gr. saphenes = clear or manifest.
also possibly from Arabic, al-safin = hidden, because the vein is available for blood draws in only a small part of its course.
sartorius
L. sartor = a tailor.
This muscle was so named because it is employed in squatting in the usual position of an old fashion tailor, with the legs crossed.
scalenus
Gr. skalenos = uneven.
scaphoid
Gr. skaphe = a skiff or anything similarly hollowed out, and eidos = resemblance.
The scaphoid bone is of this shape.
scapula
L. scapula = shoulder blade.
In ancient times it was used in the plural to mean “the back”.
sciatic
L. sciaticus; originally from the Gr. ischion = the hip.
Hence the term applies to anything near, or pertaining to, the hip.
sclera
Gr. skleros = hard.
It is because of its relative toughness that the outer layer of the eye is named the sclera.
sella turcica
L. sella = saddle, and turcica = Turkish.
A descriptive name for the saddle-shaped prominence of the sphenoid bone.
The pituitary gland sits in this saddle.
serosa
Mod. L. sersus = membrane giving off serum.
serratus
L. serratus = notched, from serra = a saw.
The serratus muscle has a jagged edge.
sesamoid
Gr. sesame = an herb, and eidos = resemblance.
Galen suggested this name for these little bones because they resembled the seeds of sesame.
shoulder
AS. sculdor = shoulder.
sigmoid
Gr. sigma = the Greek letter , and eidos = resemblance.
In earlier times the letter sigma was written as a single curve (now the letter C), which better explains this name for a curved part of the large bowel.
sinus
L. sinus = a bay or anything hollowed out.
skeleton
Gr. skeletos = dried up.
skin
AS. scinn = skin.
skull
AS. skulle = a bowl.
socket
OE. socket = spearhead; from OF.
soc = ploughshare.
Later the meaning was transferred to mean a sheath or holder, the hollow into which something fits.
soleus
L. solea = sandal, sole of a shoe, and a flat fish.
The sloeus muscle is not in the sole, but is flat.
For the sole of the foot, see PLANTAR.
soma
Gr. soma = the body.
sphenoid
Gr. sphen = wedge, and eidos = resemblance.
The sphenoid bone is wedge-shaped.
sphincter
Gr. sphinkter = a band; from sphingein = to bind.
spine
L. spina = a thorn.
Hence any sharp process of bone; later applied to the vertebral column and to the spinal cord
splanchnic
Gr. splanchna = viscera or internal organs.
This adjective is applied, for example, to the nerve supplying the viscera.
spleen
Gr. splen = spleen, perhaps originally related to splanchna = viscera.
In Latin this root became lien afer losing its initial sp.
From splen, of course, comes splenic and the combing form spleno-.
squamous
Gr. squama = fish-scale.
stapes
L. stapes = stirrup.
The smallest of the three ossicles resembles a stirrup.
stenosis
Gr. stenos = narrow, -osis = condition.
Applied to any narrowing of tubular structure, such as an artery, heart valve, or the esophagus.
sternum
Gr. sternon = the male chest, until Galen limited its meaning to the breast bone.
stomach
Gr. stomachos; originally derived from stoma = mouth, and for a time applied to the esophagus, with the thought that the gullet is the mouth of the stomach.
styloid
Gr. stylos = pillar, and eidos = resemblance.
Applied to the styloid process of the temporal bone.
sulcus
L. sulcus = groove or furrow.
supinator
L. supinare = to turn palm upward or on the back.
supra
L. supra = above.
sustenaculum
L. sustenare = to support (from sub = under and tenere = to hold), and -culum = a diminutive suffix.
Applied to a projection from the os calcis which supports the talus.
suture
L. sutura = a sewing or seam.
Hence a suture in the anatomical sense, as between the bones of the skull
sympathetic
Gr. syn = with, and pathos = suffering.
symphysis
Gr. symphysis = a growing together; from syn = with, and physis = growth.
Hence a union, but not a true joint.
synapse
Gr. syn = together, and haptein = to touch.
syndactylism
Gr. syn = together, daktylos = finger.
A congenital anomaly in which the fingers are webbed together.
systole
Gr. syn = together, stellein = to draw.
Hence to draw together or to contract, as the heart does in systolic contaction.
tachycardia
Gr. tachys = swift or fast, and kardia = heart.
taenia
Gr. tainia, and later L. taenia = a ribbon, tape, or fillet.
This term, used as the name of a genus of tapeworms, is also applied to the longitudinal muscle of the colon.
talipes
L. talipes = club foot; from talsus = ankle, and pes = foot.
talus
L. talus = ankle.
temporal
L. temporalis = pertaining to the temples.
tendon
L. tendo = a tendon; from tendere = to stretch.
tensor
L. tensor = stretcher or puller.
thenar
Gr. thenar = palm of the hand.
Later limited to the radial of the thumb side of the palm.
thorax
Gr. thorax = chest.
thymus
Gr. thymos = a warty growth.
thyroid
Gr. thyreos = a shield, and eidos = resemblance.
From a figure-of-eight shield used by the Greeks. ||
tibia
L. tibia = a flute; from a resemblance in shape.
tongue
AS. tunge = tongue.
tonsil
L. tonsilla = tonsil.
tooth
AS. toth = tooth.
trachea
Gr. tracheia = rough.
Tracheia bears the feminine ending to agree with arteria.
The Greeks believed that arteries contained air; Aristotle called the arteries smooth, while he named the windpipe “rough artery”.
tragus
Gr. tragos = a male goat.
This part of the external ear received this name because of the hairs which grow there, like a billy goat.
transverse
L. transversus = crosswise.
used, for example, of a myelitis extending across the cord.
trapezius
Gr. trapeza = a table.
Originally a contraction of tetrapeza = four-legged.
triceps
L. tri = three, and caput = head.
tricuspid
L. tri = three, and cuspis = point.
Hence applied to the heart valve that has three leaflets.
trigone
Gr. trigonon, from tri = three, and gonia = angle.
Used of several triangular areas, but especially the triangle in the urinary bladder.
trochanter
Gr. trochanter = a runner; derived from trochos = a wheel.
The name of the processes below the neck of the femur.
trochlea
L. trochlea = pulley.
truncate
L. truncus = stem or trunk.
A cut across like a tree stump.
tubercle
L. tuber = a knot or collection, and -culum = a diminutive suffix.
tuberosity
L. tuber = knob or localized collection, and -osity = condition.
tunica
L. tunica = shirt or covering.
tympanum
Gr. tympanon = a drum.
Applied to the eardrum.
ulna
L. ulna = elbow, forearm.
uncus
L. uncus = a hook.
Applied to several hook-shaped structures in the brain.
ureter
Gr. outeter, from ouron = urine, and the suffix -ter, denoting the instrument.
Applied to the upper urinary canal. ||
uterus
L. uterus = womb.
Its relationship to uter = bag of goat skin, has been suggested.
uvula
L. uva = a grape, and the diminutive suffix -ula.
Hence a little grape.
vagina
L vagina = a sheath.
From its shape and function.
vagus
L. vagus = wandering.
Hence of widespread distribution.
Our English words vague and vagrant come from this same source. ||
varus
L. valgus = bowlegged.
The word is used in the term coxa valga to denote an abduction of the thigh due to deformity of the neck of the femur.
In contrast, genu valgum has been used to mean knock-kneed.
vermiform
L vermis = worm, and forma = form.
Its use is not limited to the vermiform appendix.
vertebra
L. vertebra = a joint of the spine; from vertere = to turn.
viscera
L. viscera, plural of viscus = an internal organ.
More often used in the plural form.
vitreous
L. vitreus = glassy.
Applied to the vitreous humor of the eye.
The word comes originally from vitrum = glass; and from this comes the phrase in vitro, meaning in a glass receptacle, as contrasted with in vivo, in the living body.
volar
L. vola = palm or sole.
vomer
L. vomer = ploughshare.
The bone named vomer suggests a ploughshare by shape.
xiphoid
Gr. xiphos = sword, and eidos = resemblance.
The name of the tip of the sternum.
zonula
L. zona = a girdle, belt, or zone, and the diminutive suffix -ula.
zygoma
Gr. zygoma = bolt or bar, related to zygon = a yoke.
Applied to the cheekbone because of its shape.