Arnold's Glossary of Anatomy

by Dr. M. A. (Toby) Arnold

Modifications & Additions by Deborah Bryce
This anatomical word search engine is dedicated to the memory of Maurice (Toby) Arnold

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Z

vagina: Latin = sheath; hence, invagination is the acquisition of a sheath by pushing inwards into a membrane, and evagination is similar but produced by pushing outwards.
vagus: Latin = wandering; hence, cranial nerve X, which leaves the head and neck to traverse the thorax and upper part of the abdomen.
valgus: Latin = knock-kneed.
vallate: Latin vallatus = walled; hence, the large papillae on the tongue which are depressed below the surface and are surrounded by a groove which is itself bounded by a wall.
vallecula: diminutive of Latin vallis = a fossa.
valve: Latin valva = the segment of a folding-door.
valvula: diminutive of Latin valva.
varicocoele: Latin varix = vein and Greek kele = tumour, hernia, hence a varicose condition of the veins of the pampiniform plexus.
varus: Latin = bow-legged.
vas: Latin = vessel (plural = vasa).
vascular: Latin vasculum, diminutive of vas; hence, pertaining to blood vessels.
vastus: Latin = great, vast, extensive.
vein: Latin vena; adjective - venous.
velum: Latin = curtain; veli = of a curtain.
venter: Latin = belly; hence, ventral, pertaining to the belly side.
ventricle: diminutive of Latin venter = a small belly.
vermiform: Latin vermis = a worm, and forma = shape; hence, worm-shaped.
vermis: Latin = worm; hence, the segmented median part of the cerebellum.
vertebra: Latin verto = I turn; hence, one of the movable bones of the backbone which seems to be shaped for rotation.
vertex: Latin = summit; hence the highest point on the skull.
vertical: perpendicular (at a right angle) to the horizontal.
vesica: Latin = bladder, adjective - vesical.
vesicle: diminutive of Latin vesica = bladder, hence a little bladder.
vesicula: diminutive of Latin vesica = bladder; seminal vesicle.
vestibule: Latin vestibulum = entrance hall.
vibrissa: Latin vibrare = to vibrate; hence, the hairs in the nasal vestibule which vibrate in the current of air.
villus: Latin a hair; hence, a vascular, hair-like process, usually projecting from a mucous surface.
vincula: Latin = fetters (singular - vinculum); hence, the delicate vascular synovial bands passing to a tendon in the digits.
visceral: adjective, Latin viscus = an internal organ.
viscus: Latin = an internal organ, plural - viscera, adjective - visceral.
vital: Latin vita = life.
vitelline: Latin vitellus = yolk.
vitreous: Latin vitreus = glassy.
vocal: adjective, Latin vox = voice.
vomer: Latin = plough-share; hence, the bone of the nasal septum which is split in two at its upper edge.
vorticosae: Latin vortex = whirl; hence the whirl-like arrangement of the 4 venae vorticosae leaving the eyeball.
vulva: Latin = the external female genitalia.