Anatomy and Embryology Lecture Review

This vocabulary set covers essential anatomical terms, clinical correlations, and embryological derivatives as detailed in the comprehensive medical lecture notes and exam question bank.

Median

The anatomical term used to describe a position lying exactly in the midline.

Rotation

The movement involving the turning or revolving of a body part around its long axis.

Vertebral foramen

The opening in a vertebra bounded by the body, the pedicles, and the laminae.

White rami

Nerve structures found only between the $T1$ and $L2$ levels of the spinal cord.

Perikaryon

The part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus.

Gag reflex (Afferent portion)

The sensory limb of the reflex mediated by the glossopharyngeal nerve ($CN IX$).

Tensor veli palatini

The muscle responsible for opening the auditory tube to equalize pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane.

Thymus

The organ that develops from the third pharyngeal pouch.

Fistula

An abnormal opening between the internal surface of a hollow organ and the external surface of the body.

Nucleus pulposus

The adult structure derived from the embryonic notochord, found in the center of the intervertebral disc.

Myelencephalon

The secondary brain vesicle that gives rise to the medulla oblongata.

Spina bifida with meningocele

A congenital malformation where a meningeal sac containing no neural tissue protrudes through a defect in the neural arches.

Ciliary ganglion

A ganglion composed of the cell bodies of parasympathetic postganglionic efferent nerve fibers.

Detached retina

A condition characterized by the separation of the derivatives of the inner and outer layers of the optic cup.

Shoulder separation

A clinical condition involving the dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint.

Winging of the scapula

A condition resulting from injury to the long thoracic nerve, leading to paralysis of the serratus anterior muscle.

Subtalar joint

The joint located between the talus and the calcaneus.

Housemaid's knee

Inflammation of the prepatellar bursa.

Clergyman's knee

Inflammation of the superficial infrapatellar bursa.

Median umbilical ligament

The adult remnant of the embryonic urachus.

Rectouterine pouch (Pouch of Douglas)

The most dependent part of the female peritoneal cavity when in an upright position.

Arachnoid granulations

The main site of absorption of cerebrospinal fluid into the blood.

Dermatome

The area of skin supplied by the afferent fibers in the dorsal root of a single spinal nerve.

Bicornuate uterus

A uterine malformation resulting from the incomplete fusion of the paramesonephric ducts.

Spring ligament

The common name for the plantar calcaneonavicular ligament, which is crucial for maintaining the medial longitudinal arch.

Tetralogy of Fallot

A cyanotic heart defect characterized by pulmonary stenosis, overriding aorta, ventricular septal defect, and right ventricular hypertrophy.

Coarctation of the aorta

A narrowing of the aorta that may be indicated radiographically by the 'notching' of the ribs.

Hesselbach’s triangle (Inguinal triangle)

The anatomical region through which a direct inguinal hernia passes.

Capacitation

The activation period for the conditioning of sperm in the female reproductive tract required for fertilization.

Arnold-Chiari malformation

A congenital condition associated with a small posterior cranial fossa and internal hydrocephalus.

Ligament of Treitz

The suspensory muscle of the duodenum that connects the duodenojejunal flexure to the right crus of the diaphragm.

Epitympanic recess

The portion of the tympanic cavity that contains the head of the malleus and the articulation with the incus.

Cervical plexus

A nerve plexus formed by the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves $C1$ through $C4$.

Portal hypertension

A condition where blood flow is reversed in portal-systemic anastomoses, such as the esophageal tributaries of the left gastric vein.

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

The cranial nerve that provides taste to the posterior $1/3$ of the tongue and innervates the vallate papillae.