BIOL 162 - Chapter 1

Superior

vertical position - above something else

Inferior

vertical position - below something else

Anterior

position of a structure - front

Posterior

position of a structure - back

Medial

toward the midline

Lateral

away from the midline

Proximal

close to the attachment point

Distal

further from the attachment point

Cranial

toward the head (superior - humans) (anterior - 4 legged)

Caudal

toward the tail or rear (inferior - humans) (posterior - 4 legged)

Dorsal

upper structure (walking on all fours)

Ventral

lower structure (walking on all fours)

Head

prominent expanded end of a bone (rounded)

Shaft

long middle portion of bone

Crest

narrow ridge

Line

narrow raised area (lines on back of skull)

Process

a bony projection

Condyle

a smooth rounded projection that articulates with another bone

Epicondyle

small round projections above condyle

Trochanter

large, rough-looking process found only on the femur

Spine

narrow or sharp process

Tubercle

smooth, small rounded process

Tuberosity

rough area or surface on a bone where a muscle attaches

Fossa

shallow depression

Sulcus

groove that allows a nerve or blood vessel to pass

Foramen

round hole through a bone that allows nerves and blood vessels through

Canal

a canal or tunnel through a bone

Meatus (external acoustic)

tunnel that transmits sounds to your ear

Fissure

narrow slit through a bone