INTEODUCTOKY 35 



Infundib'ulum (from infundere, to pour into) is a term applied in 

 osteology to a funnel-shaped opening from one cavity to another. 

 Example : infundibulum of the frontal sinus. 



A canal is a passage through one bone or through several bones. 

 Examples: Vidian canal, cnmilis pterygoideus ; lachrymal canal, 

 canalis lachrymal Is. A small canal is a canaliculus. Example : 

 tympanic canaliculus. A more conspicuous passage is called a meatus 

 (passage). Example: external auditory meatus, meatus acusticus 

 externus. 



In a few instances a canal is termed an aqueduct (from aqua, water, 

 and ductuSj canal), on the supposition that it transmits fluid. Example : 

 cochlear aqueduct, aqucedudus coehlcce. 



nTALIFYIXG TERMS. 



It will be noticed that a part of a bone or a feature of a bone has, 

 in addition to its own name, shaft, canal, tuberosity, one or more 

 qualifying names which serve to distinguish it from similar parts or 

 features of other bones, and aid in locating- it, or even partially 

 describe it ; for example, shaft of the femur, Vidian canal, greater 

 tuberosity of the humerus. Of course it would be useless to give a 

 list of all possible qualifying expressions ; it will, however, aid the 

 student in remembering these names if they are classified, even if 

 the classification be to a certain extent incomplete. 



A part of a bone or a feature of a bone is distinguished, 



1. By the name of the bone on which it is found. Examples: 



condyles of the femur, parietal eminence. 



2. By its position with reference to the axes of the trunk or the 



axes of the limb. Examples : transverse process of a ver- 

 tebra ; anterior surface of the femur ; proximal end of the 

 tibia. 



3. By its position on the bone itself. Example : supraspinous 



fossa, the fossa above the spinous process. 



4. By the name of (a) a muscle, (b) a nerve, (c) a blood-vessel, 



(d) some other feature, or (e) another bone, related in some 

 way to it. Examples : (a) deltoid ridge ; (b) optic foramen ; 

 (c) jugular notch ; (d) inlbercondyloicl notch ; (e) nasal 

 process. 



5. By its size. Examples : great trochanter, lesser tuberosity. 



