GLOSSARY 451 



Peristaltic. Pertaining to peristalsis. 



Peritendineum. (Around a tendon.) The fibrous sheath investing 

 the small bundles of tendon fibers. 



Peritoneum. (From the Greek words meaning around, to stretch.) 

 The serous membrane lining the interior of the abdominal cavity and 

 surrounding the contained viscera. It forms folds for the support of 

 organs called ligaments (of liver, uterus, etc.); attaches organs to 

 each other, as omentum when another organ is connected to the 

 stomach, thus gastrqsplenic omentum; as the intestines are held to 

 the posterior abdominal wall: thus the mesentery; as the colon is 

 attached to the wall of the abdomen : thus the mesocolon. The organs 

 behind the peritoneum are spoken of as retroperitoneal organs. 



Peroneal. Pertaining to the fibula bone. The region overlying the 

 fibula. 



Peroneus Brevis (muscle). The short peroneal. 



Peroneus Longus (muscle). The long peroneal. 



Pes Anserinus. (From the Latin word pes, "a foot;" anserinus, "a 

 goose"). A goose foot; named, as the branches of the facial nerve are 

 supposed to spread like the toes of a goose foot. 



Petrous. (From Greek word meaning rock, stony, of the hardness 

 of stone.) 



Phalanx (pi. phalanges). One of the bones of the fingers or toes. 



Pharynx. (From the Greek word meaning throat). The musculo- 

 membranous tube situated back of the nose, mouth, and larynx. 



Phrenic. Pertaining to the diaphragm or diaphragmatic region, 

 surface, etc. 



Pia Mater. (From the Latin words pia, " tender;" mater, "mother.") 

 The tender mother. The vascular membrane enveloping the surface 

 of the brain and spinal cord. 



Pigment. (From the Latin word pingere, "to paint.") A coloring 

 matter, or dye-stuff. Pigments may be in solution or in the form of 

 granules or crystals; as the pigment of skin in negroes, etc.; iris of eye. 



Pisiform (bone). (From the Latin words pisum, "a pea;" forma, 

 "form.") Pea-shaped. A bone of the wrist. 



Placenta. (From the Greek word meaning a cake.) The organ on 

 the wall of the uterus to which the embryo is attached by means of 

 the umbilical cord and from which it receives its nourishment and 

 excretes the waste products from about the third month of gestation 

 to the birth of the child (parturition). It is called the "after-birth" 

 by the laity. 



Placental. Referring to the placenta. 



Plantar. (From the Latin word planta, "the sole of the foot.") 

 Referring to the sole of the foot. 



Plasma. The fluid part of the blood and lymph. 



Platysma Myoides (muscle) . . The broad muscle (from the Greek) . 



Pleura. (From the Greek word meaning a rib.) The serous mem- 

 brane covering the lungs and inner surface of the wall of the thoracic 

 cavity. 



Pollicis. (From the Latin word pollen, pollicis, "the thumb.") 

 Of the thumb. 



Polygonal. Having many angles. 



Polyhedral. Having many sides. 



