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

dartos: Greek = flayed or skinned.
declive: Latin declivitas = slope (cf. clivus).
decussation: Latin decussatus = crossed like the letter X.
deep: further from the surface.
deferens: adjective, Latin = carrying down.
deglutition: Latin deglutire = to swallow, hence the act of swallowing.
dehiscence: Latin de = away, hiscere = to gape, hence, a separation, a splitting away.
deltoid: adjective, Greek delta (D). The capital has a triangular shape (cf. the delta of the Nile river).
dendrite: or dendron, Greek = a tree, hence like the branches of a tree.
dens: Latin = tooth (cf. dentist), adjective - dental.
dentate: Latin dens = tooth, hence, having a toothed margin.
denticulate: Latin dens = tooth, hence, having small tooth-like projections.
dentine: from Latin dens = tooth; the substance of the tooth surrounding the pulp.
depress: Latin de = prefix implying descent, and pressum = pressed, hence to press down, and depression = downward movement or a concavity on a surface.
dermatome: Greek derma = skin, tome = a cutting or division, hence a segment of skin supplied by a single spinal ganglion.
dermis: Greek = skin, adjective - dermal.
detrusor: Latin detrusio = thrust away.
diaphragm: Greek dia = across, and phragma = wall, hence, a partition, adjective - diaphragmatic (see also phrenic).
diaphysis: Greek dia = apart, and physis = growth, hence, the body of a long bone between the growing regions near the ends.
diastole: Greek dia = apart, and stellein = sending, hence sending the walls of the heart apart, i.e. relaxation or dilatation. Adjective - diastolic.
diencephalon: Greek dia = between, and enkephalos = brain, hence in general the structures surrounding the 3rd ventricle. adjective - diencephalic.
digastric: adjective, Greek dia = double, and gaster = belly, hence, 2-bellied.
digit: Latin digitus = a finger or toe, usually excepting the pollex (thumb) or hallux (big toe), adjective - digital.
diplopia: Greek diploos = double, and opsis = vision, hence double vision.
diploë: Greek = fold, hence the cancellous bone between the inner and outer tables of the skull, adjective - diploic.
discus: Latin = disc.
dissection: Latin disssecare = to cut up, from dis = apart, sectum = cut (c.f. anatomy).
distal: adjective, Latin di = apart, and stans = standing, hence, standing apart, implying farther from a given point, usually the root of a limb.
diverticulum: Latin = by-road, hence a blind tubular process or sac.
dorsal: adjective, Latin dorsum = back.
dorsum: Latin = back.
ductus: Latin = duct.
duodenum: Latin duodenarius = twelve, because it is 12 fingerbreadths long.
dura: adjective, Latin = hard (cf. durable); dura mater, the tough covering membrane of the central nervous system.
dysphagia: Greek dys = difficult, and phagein = to eat, hence, difficulty in swallowing.