30 MAMMALIAN ANATOMY 



GENERAL TERMS USED IN DESCRIPTION. 



Aspect. When a bone or a combination of bones is viewed from a 

 given direction, the portion seen is called an aspect or view. Ex- 

 ample : lateral aspect of the skull, norma lateral it cranii. 



Region is a name used to denote locality on one bone or on a 

 number of bones. Example : the palatine region of the skull, regio 

 palatina. 



PARTS OF BONES. 



The body (corpus) of a bone is its principal part. It is usually 

 the seat of primary ossification ; it gives the general shape to the bone, 

 supports the secondary parts, and affords extensive attachments to 

 muscles. Example : body of the scapula, corpus scapulce. 



Shaft is a term used to designate the body or principal portion of 

 a long bone. Example : shaft of the humerus, corpus humeri. 



Centrum is applied to the disk-like or cylindrical body of a ver- 

 tebra : centrum vertebrae,. 



Diaph'ysis (Greek dia, between, and pliuo, to grow) is another name 

 for body, shaft, or centrum. 



Extremity is employed to denote the end of a bone, particularly 

 the end of a long bone. Example : upper extremity of the tibia, 

 extremitas superior tibiae. 



Epiph'ysis (Greek epi, upon, and phuo, to grow) is another name 

 for end or extremity. 



Mass is a term used in several cases to denote a large but somewhat 

 indefinite portion of a bone. Example : lateral mass of the sacrum, 

 massa lateralis. 



A wing (aki) is an expanded part of a bone. Example : wings of 

 the vomer, alee vomeris. 



A plate (lamina) is a broad but comparatively thin layer of bone. 

 Example : orbital plate of the frontal, lamina orbitalis. 



A septum (a wall) is a plate which separates two cavities. Ex- 

 ample : nasal septum, septum narium. 



The head (caput) of a bone is a rounded prominence at one end 

 for articulation with an adjoining bone. Example : head of the femur, 

 caput femoris. 



The head is usually separated from the rest of the bone by a con- 

 striction known as the neck (collum). Example: neck of the scapula, 

 collum scapulce. 



