GLOSSARY 



Abdomen. From a word meaning to conceal. The abdomen contains or conceals the 



abdominal organs. 

 Abduction. From a Latin word meaning to lead from. The abdncens muscle leads, or 



turns, the eye from the median line. 

 Acetabulum. A small vessel or cup for vinegar. The name given to the round 



depression or cavity of the hip bone or os coxae, for the head of the femur. 

 Acid. Sour. Acids redden blue litmus paper. 

 Accommodation. The adjusting or focussing of the eye for vision at different 



distances. 



Acromegaly. A disease characterized by over-growth of the face and extremities. 

 Acromion. From Greek words meaning summit and shoulder. The process of bone 



at the highest point of the shoulder. 

 Adduction. Leading toward. 



Adenoid. Resembling a gland or aden. A gland-like growth in the naso-pharynx. 

 Adipose. Fatty. Fat. 



Afferent Bearing toward. Afferent vessels enter organs. 

 Ala. A wing. (Plural, aid). 

 Alimentary. Pertaining to food or aliment, as, the alimentary tract, which contains 



the food until it is digested. 



Alkaline. Opposite of acid. An alkali turns red litmus paper blue. 

 Alveolus. The border of the jaw bone, named for the cavities which contain the 



teeth. (Alveolus, a little hollow.) 



Ameba. A one-celled, jelly-like living being, which constantly changes its form. 

 Ameboid movements. Movements which cause a change of form, like those of the 



ameba. 



Amphoteric. Like both. Applied to fluids which possess certain qualities resem- 

 bling both alkalies and acids. 

 Amyloid. Starchy or starch like. 



Amylopsin. The starch-digesting ferment of pancreatic fluid. 

 Anastomosis. The opening of one vessel into another. Literally to bring to a 



mouth. 



Ancon. The elbow. Anconeus, a muscle of the elbow-joint. 

 Annulus. A little ring. (A nnulus avails, the oval little ring of the heart.) 

 Anonyma. Without a name. 



Antebrachium. The forearm. From ante, before, and brachium, the arm. 

 Antecubital. Applied to the space in front of the elbow. From ante, before, and 



cubit, the forearm. 



Antrum. A cave. The hollow in the maxilla is called the Antrum of Highmore. 

 Aorta, The largest artery in the body. 

 Apnea. Suspension of breathing. 



Aponeurosis. A layer of strong white fibrous tissue (meaning form a tendon). 

 Aqueous. Watery, from aqua, water. 

 Arachnoid. Like a spider's web, for fineness. One of the membranes of the brain 



and spinal cord. 

 Areolar. Having little spaces. 

 Arterio-sclerosis. Hardening of the arteries. 

 Artery. A vessel carrying blood away from the heart. 

 Arthrosis. A joint or articulation. 

 Arytenoid. Shaped like the mouth of a pitcher. 

 Assimilation. The taking up of nutriment by the body tissues, in such a manner 



that it becomes a part of them. 

 Asphyxia. A condition in which the blood is deprived of oxygen. 



