PREFACE 



vn 



1. In the case of the bones of the carpus and tarsus. For 

 these the BNA nomenclature employs the terms used on the 

 Continent, and especially Germany (e.g., triquetrum, multan- 

 gulum ma jus, etc.), instead of those to which the Americans 

 and English are accustomed. The synonomy of these terms is 

 presented in the form of a table, but as both sets are purely 

 arbitrary and describe the shapes and relative sizes as found 

 in Man alone, there seems no reason why one should be pre- 

 ferred to the other, or, indeed, why either should be longer 

 perpetuated, in preference to the simple system employed by 

 comparative morphologists. 



2. In several cases in which terms of orientation are still 

 employed with reference to Man in a standing position (e.g., 

 superior and inferior instead of anterior and posterior; an- 

 terior and posterior instead of ventral and dorsal). Thus, in 

 the case of the columns of the spinal cord, it is thought best 

 to reject the BNA terms posterior and anterior in favor of 

 the more natural dorsal and ventral, as employed in the case 

 of all other animals. In the same way the two vence caves are 

 referred to as anterior and posterior instead of superior and 

 inferior. 



3. In the case of the pads of the palm and sole. Here the 

 principle involved is one of use rather than position, and the 

 point at issue depends upon the true function of these parts. 

 The two views held at present are (i) that their function is 

 tactile, and (2) that it is mechanical, preventing the tendency 

 to slip by presenting a surface covered by ridges, [cf. Chap- 

 ter IV.] The BNA term for these pads is toruli tactiles, a 

 term which does not accord with the view expressed here. 



In a few cases the adoption of the new nomenclature in- 

 volves changes in well-established terms ; for example, ductus 

 [vas~\ deferens, stratum germinativum [mucosum~\, and renal 

 [Malpighian] corpuscles; and in some there is a slight change 

 in spelling, as thyreoid and chorioid, but as these are all in the 

 interest of exactness and do not violate morphological princi- 

 ples, they are employed here. 



In the case of a work which, like the present one, attempts 



