Anatomical Structures

Acromioclavicular joint – joint formed by the distal clavicle and the acromion process of the scapula

Anatomical snuff box – the space at the base of the thumb created by the extensor pollicis longus and brevis

Anterior cruciate ligament – a ligament crossing through the knee joint that attaches from the anterior tibia to the posterior femur. It limits anterior movement of the tibia from the femur as well as rotation of the tibia

Articular surfaces – the ends of bones which move on each other. These surfaces are covered with a thin layer of cartilage (hyaline cartilage) to ensure smooth movement

Appendicular skeleton – consists of the bones of the shoulder and the upper extremities, and the hips and the lower extremities. These bones form the appendages and attach to the axial skeleton

Articulation – a joint between bones, the manner of connecting by a joint

Axial skeleton – composed of the bones of the skull, the thorax, and the vertebral column. These bones form the axis of the body

Axilla – arm pitBiceps – muscle on front of upper armBone – a supportive rigid connective

tissue consisting of an abundant calcified matrix enclosing many branched cells

Bursa – a fluid filled sac or saclike cavity that allows a muscle or tendon to slide over bone (thereby eliminating friction)

Calcaneous – heel boneCartilage – a connective tissue

characterized by its nonvascularity and firm consistency

Cervical – of the neck, especially the seven vertebrae in the neck

Chondral – pertaining to cartilage

Coccyx – the 4 rudimentary bones at lowest end of the backbone; the vestigial human tail

Costochondral – rib and its cartilageCranial – of or pertaining to the skull

or superior part of the body, opposed to caudal

Cruciate – cross shapedCubital fossa – triangular area on the

anterior aspect of the forearm directly opposite the elbow joint (the bend of the elbow)

Cutaneous – skinDermatome – segmental skin area

innervated by various spinal cord segments

Dermal – pertaining to the dermis; cutaneous

Diarthrodial joint – a ball and socket joint

Digit – finger/toeEpiphysis – growth plate

Fascia – fibrous membrane that covers, supports, and separates muscles

Hamstrings – a muscle group in the posterior thigh consisting of the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris

Hypothenar eminence – intrinsic muscles of the thumb

Iliac crest – the superior border of the iliac bone; a contusion to this area is called a hip pointer

Joint capsule, articular capsule, synovial capsule – a saclike, fibrous membrane that surrounds a joint; often including or interwoven with ligaments

Ligament – a band of flexible, tough, dense white fibrous connective tissue connecting the articular ends of the bones and sometimes enveloping them in a capsule

Longitudinal arch – from heel to toes on the under surface of the foot

Lumbar – vertebral column extending from the twentieth through the twenty-fourth vertebrae; low back

Malleolus – a rounded bony protuberance on each side of the ankle joint

Menisci – curved fibrocarilages used to deepen the articular facets of the knee

Meniscus – in anatomy a crescent shaped structure serving to adapt the articular surfaces to one another

Muscle – a tissue composed of contractile fibers or cells. A contractile organ composed of muscle tissue, affecting the movements of the organs and parts of the body

Nerve – a bundle of nerve fibers, usually outside the brain or spinal cord

Phalanges – bones of the fingers or toesPlantar fascia – tough bands of tissue

on the sole of the foot

Popliteal space – area behind the knee joint

Quadriceps – the muscle group in the anterior thigh consisting of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and vastus lateralis

Rotator cuff – the muscle group in the shoulder consisting of the subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor

Sesamoid bone – a small bone implanted in a tendon

Tendon – a band of dense fibrous tissue forming the termination of a muscle and attaching to a bone

Thoracic – portion of vertebral column extending from the eighth through the nineteenth vertebrae; mid/upper back

Thenar eminence – intricinsic muscles of the thumb that include the abductor policis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, and adductor pollicis