Latin and Greek translations for Specific Terms and Structures

Amygdala

Almond

Arachnoid

From the Greek arachne, "spiders web"

Arbor vitae

Tree of life

Brachium

Arm (brachial plexus)

Bulbar

Referring to brainstem (corticobulbar)

Cauda equina

Horse's tail

Cephalon

Brain

Cerebellum

Little brain

Cingulum

"Belt" or "girdle" (cingulate gyrus)

Clivus

"Slide" or "slope"

Colliculi

Little hills

Corpus callosum

Tough body

Ceneus

"Wedge"

Dura

Hard

Falx

"Sickle" (faux cerebri)

Fasciculus

Little bundle

Fimbria

Fringe

Vermis

From the Latin, "worm"

Folia

Leaf

Foramen

Hole

Vagus

- Greek for "wandering"

- The term "vagrant" comes from this as well

Trochlea

- Pulley (SO4)

- Superior oblique tendon is anchored in trochlea

Tomos

Greek for "slice" (microtome; tomography)

Temporal

Time

Tegmentum

Covering

Tectum

Roof

Substantia nigra

Black substance

Stria

Stripe

Septum

From the Latin, "wall" or "fence"

Somatosensory

Body sense

Raphe

From the Greek, "seam"

Pons

Bridge

Pineal

Pine cone

Pharynx

Greek for "throat"

Pellucidum

From the Latin for "transparent"

Operculum

Latin for "covering" or "lid"

Nodulus

Latin for "button" or "knot"

Meninges

From the Greek Meninx, or membrane

Fornix

Arch

Locus ceruleus

- "Blue spot"

- Referring to the blue-black color of norepinephrine containing neurons in unstrained sections

Funiculus

String

Limbus

"Ring" (limbic lobe)

Geniculate

Latin for "little knee" ('Genu' is knee or bend)

Infundibulum

Funnel

Glossus

Greek for tongue (hypoglossal; glossopharyngeal)

Homunculus

Little human

Hippocampus

Latin for "sea horse"