396 GLOSSARY 



Pectoral. Connected with the breast, as pectoral muscles. 

 Pedicle. A little foot. Peduncle has a similar meaning. 

 Pelvis. A basin. The cavity in the lowest part of the trunk. 

 Pericardium. Around the heart. 

 Perichondrium. Around cartilage. 



Perimysium. The connective tissue around small bundles of muscle fibers. 

 Perinea!. Pertaining to the perineum, that region of the body in front of the anus. 

 Periosteum. Around bone. 



Peristalsis. From two Greek words, meaning around and constriction. The intes- 

 tinal movements which propel the food. 

 Peritoneum. From two Greek words, meaning around and to stretch. The serous 



membrane around abdominal organs. 

 Peroneal. Relating to the fibula or perone. Peroneal nerves supply muscles on the 



fibula. 



Petrous. Hard, like a rock. 

 Phagocyte. White blood-cells having the power to take micro-organisms into their 



substance and to digest them. 

 Phalanges. Plural of phalanx, a body of troops drawn up closely together. The 



fingers and toes. 

 Pharynx. That part of the food passage which connects the mouth and esophagus. 



The upper part is the naso-pharynx, an air passage. 



Phlebotomy. Cutting a vein. The operation of bleeding or venesection. 

 Phrenic. Pertaining to the phren or diaphragm, as, the phrenic nerves. 

 Pia mater. Tender mother. The delicate membrane which bears the blood-vessels 



of brain and cord. 

 Pigment. Coloring matter. 



Plantar. Belonging to the sole of the foot or planta. 

 Plasma. Something moulded. The name given to the fluid portion of the blood, 



from which tissues are formed. Lymph plasma, the fluid portion of lymph. 



Muscle plasma, the fluid portion of the contents of a muscle cell. 

 Platysma. Broad. Platysma muscle. 

 Pleura. A side. The name of the serous membrane which lines the thorax and 



covers the lungs. 

 Plexus. A network. An arrangement of vessels and nerves which appear to be 



woven together. 



Pneumogastric. Belonging to the lungs and stomach. 

 Pollicis. Genitive form of pollex, the thumb. 

 Polymorphonuclear. Having nuclei of various shapes. 

 Poples. The ham; a space behind the knee (popliteal space). 

 Popliteal. Belonging to the poples or back of the knee. 

 Porta. A gate. The portal vein enters the porta or gate of the liver. 

 Prehension. Taking hold of. 



Pre-molar. Applied to the teeth which stand immediately in front of the molars. 

 Process. In anatomy, a projection. 

 Pronation. Literally, bending forward. The position of the hand when the thumb 



is toward the body. The act of turning the hand face downward, or in the 



prone position. 

 Prostate. From Greek words meaning to stand before. The prostate gland is in 



front of the neck of the bladder. 



Protoplasm. A simple gelatinous cell substance. Bioplasm. 

 Protuberance. A knob-like projection. 

 Proximal. Near the head or trunk. 

 Psychic. Pertaining to the mind. 

 Pterygoid. Wing-shaped. 

 Pubes. The anterior portion of the os coxae. 

 Pulmonary. Pertaining to the lung or pulmo. 

 Quadriceps. Four headed. 

 Rachitis. From two words meaning spinal column and inflammation. A disease in 



which the bones are deficient in lime salts. 

 Radius. A rod or spoke. The lateral bone of the forearm. 

 Ramus. A branch, as the ramus of the mandible. 

 Raphe. A seam. The union of two parts in a line, like a seam. 



