io PRACTICAL ANATOMY. 



Compound words are used to express the collective sense arising from 

 anatomical union, conjunction, and relation. Words of this class are met many 

 times daily, not only in anatomy, but in every branch of the medical sciences. 

 Sterno-hyoid, omo-hyoid, musculo-aponeurotic, temporo-mandibular, express 

 relations in anatomy that are thoroughly understood by the physician. 



The principle in compound words is clearly in the nature of a copartner- 

 ship. In the expression, radio-ulnar articulation, radius and ulna are both 

 concerned in the formation of this joint ; each bone has an anatomical interest in 

 the joint, hence a physiological responsibility. The name of an articulation, 

 then, to represent fully the copartnership, must include all the parties to 

 the contract. The number of partners must be two ; it may be any number : 

 (i) Sterno-cleido-mastoid ; (2)fronto-malo-spheno-ethmo-lachrymo-maxillo-nasal 

 articulation. 



RULE FOR WRITING MINIMAL COMPOUND WORDS. Place the shorter word 

 first in the ablative, o ; the larger word second, in some euphonious adjective ; 

 connect the two words by a hyphen. The rule for writing maximal compound 

 words is the same. Here the shortest word is placed first ; it and all succeeding 

 words end in o except the last. 



Exceptions to the rule are (i) to indicate direction of motion ; (2) to conform 

 to national or individual ideas of euphony. We may express the direction taken 

 by a missile passing from the radial to the ulnar side thus : radio-ulnarly, or the 

 opposite by ulno-radially. In many cases euphony demands the larger word 

 first. Where exceptions are as important as these, they seem to acquire the 

 dignity of law ; hence remember in writing compound words either word may 

 be placed first. 



Anatomical Opposites in Location or Function. The fundamental idea in 

 each is antagonism ; of location in the former, of function in the latter. An under- 

 standing of one opposite implies the necessity of the other's presence : anterior 

 surface of the scapula is positive evidence of the existence of a posterior surface 

 of the scapula. The principle is sometimes abused e. g., internal iliac muscle is 

 referred to in some texts ; there is no external iliac muscle ; etc. These redun- 

 dancies, while undesirable, since they are misleading, are nevertheless tolerated 

 in some good works on anatomy by a sort of license that characterizes the 

 unique redundancy in legal and scientific phraseology. Musculus flexor carpi 

 radialis and musculus extensor carpi radialis are anatomical examples of ana- 

 tomical structures opposite in function. Remember, too, that structures opposite 

 in function are usually also opposites in point of location on the part of the 

 body in which found. 



EXAMPLES OF COMMON OPPOSITES. 



Superior extremity. Inferior extremity. 



Anterior surface. Posterior surface. 



Ventral mesentery. Dorsal mesentery. 



Central organ. Peripheral organ. 



Somatic nerves. Sympathetic nerve?. 



Proximal end. Distal end. 



Tendinous origin. Tendinous insertion. 



Flexor muscles. Extensor muscles. 



Pronator agents. Supinator agents. 



Greater trochanter. Lesser trochanter. 



Base of lung. Apex of lung. 



Levator muscle. Depressor muscle. 



Gluteus maximus. Gluteus minimus. 



Pectoralis major. Pectoralis minor. 



Peroneus longus. Peroneus brevis. 



Colica dextra. Colica sinistra. 



Centripetal vessels. Centrifugal vessels. 



Compact tissue. Cancellous tissue. 



Longitudinal axis. Transverse axis. 



