• A
• Abduct
  LATIN
  ab, away + ducere, pull.
• Acetabulum
  LATIN
  acteum, vinegar + abrum, holder. Small cup for vinegar, hence any small cup.
• Adduct
  LATIN
  ad, towards + ducere, pull.
• Adrenal
  LATIN
  ad, toward + ren, kidney.
• Ala (alar)
  LATIN
  ala, wing.
• Alveolus (alveolar)
  LATIN
  alveolus, small compartment.
• Ampulla
  LATIN
  ampulla, flask.
• Ansa
  LATIN
  ansa, handle.
• Antecubital
  LATIN
  ante, in front; cubitum, elbow.
• Anular
  LATIN
  anus, ring.
• Appendix
  LATIN
  ad, toward; pendere, to hang. Hence appendage.
• Arcuate
  LATIN
  arcus, bow.
• Areola
  LATIN
  areola, small area.
• Atrium
  LATIN
  atrium, court or hall.
• Auricle
  LATIN
  auricula, diminutive of auris, ear.
• Axilla
  LATIN
  axilla, armpit.
• Acromion
  GREEK
  acron, summit + omos, shoulder.
• Anconeus
  GREEK
  ancone, elbow.
• Aponeurosis
  GREEK
  apo, from: neuron, tendon. (Early GREEK anatomists used neuron indiscriminately for nerves and tendons.)
• Arachnoid
  GREEK
  arachne, spider; like a spider's web
• Arytenoid
  GREEK
  arytaina, pitcher; the two cartilages, with the gap between them, look like the spout of a pitcher.
• Atlas
  GREEK
  Atlas, mythical figure; Atlas supports the world on his shoulders.
• Axis
  GREEK
  axon, axle or pivot.
• Azygos
  GREEK
  azygos, unyoked (not a pair) named for its asymmetry.

• B
• Biceps
  LATIN
  bi, double; caput, head.
• Brevis
  LATIN
  brevis, short.
• Buccinator
  LATIN
  buccinator, trumpeter
• Bursa
  LATIN
  bursa, purse.
• Brachial
  GREEK
  brachion, arm.
• Brachiocephalic
  GREEK
  brachion, arm; kephale, head.
• Basilic
  ARABIC
  basilik, inner.

• C
• Calcaneus
  LATIN
  calcar, spur.
• Callosum
  LATIN
  callus, hard.
• Calvaria
  LATIN
  calva, bald.
• Canaliculus
  LATIN
  canaliculus, little canal.
• Capitate
  LATIN
  caput, head; thus rounded or shaped like the head.
• Cauda equina
  LATIN
  cauda equina, horse's tail.
• Cecum
  LATIN
  caecus, blind.
• Cerebellum
  LATIN
  cerebellum, little brain.
• Cerebrum
  LATIN
  cerebrum, brain.
• Choanae
  LATIN
  choana, funnel
• Chorda
  LATIN
  chorda, cord.
• Circumflex
  LATIN
  circum, around; flexere, to bend.
• Clavicle
  LATIN
  clavis, key or fastener. An ancient window fastener was a stick with a double curve.
• Colliculus
  LATIN
  colliculus, little hill.
• Conjunctiva
  LATIN
  conjunctivus, joining together.
• Cornea
  LATIN
  cornea, horny.
• Costal
  LATIN
  costa, rib.
• Cribriform
  LATIN
  cribrum, sieve.
• Crista galli
  LATIN
  crista, crest; galli, barnyard cock
• Cruciate
  LATIN
  crux (crucis), a cross.
• Crus (pl. crura)
  LATIN
  crus (cruris), shin or leg; Used to name anything remotely resembling a leg.
• Cuneiform
  LATIN
  cuneus, wedge; forma, shape.
• Carotid
  GREEK
  karotides from karoun, to throttle.
• Carpal
  GREEK
  karpos, wrist.
• Celiac
  GREEK
  koilia, belly.
• Chordae tendineae
  GREEK
  corda, string; tendin, stretched.
• Clinoid
  GREEK
  cline, bed; the c. processes are named for their resemblance to bed posts.
• Clitoris
  GREEK
  kleitoris, clitoris.
• Coccyx
  GREEK
  kokkyx, cuckoo; the bone has a fancied resemblance to a cuckoo's beak.
• Concha
  GREEK
  conche, cockleshell.
• Condyle
  GREEK
  kondylos, knob.
• Conoid
  GREEK
  konos, cone-shaped.
• Coracoid
  GREEK
  korax, crow; eidos, like; i.e. hooked like a crow's beak.
• Coronary
  GREEK
  choronos, crown thus encircling.
• Cranium
  GREEK
  kranion, skull.
• Cremaster
  GREEK
  kremaster, suspender.
• Cricoid
  GREEK
  krikos, ring.
• Cuboid
  GREEK
  kubos, cube; eidos, resembling.
• Cephalic
  ARABIC
  alkifal, outer.

• D
• Denticulate
  LATIN
  denticula, little tooth.
• Digit
  LATIN
  digitus, finger.
• Diverticulum
  LATIN
  diverticulum, by-way.
• Dorsum sellae
  LATIN
  dorsum, back; saddle, saddle, see Sella turcica.
• Duodenum
  LATIN
  duodenum, twelve; so named because it is 12 fingerbreadths in length.
• Dura
  LATIN
  durus, hard.
• Dartos
  GREEK
  dartos, skinned, flayed.
• Deltoid
  GREEK
  delta, the letter D, thus a triangle.
• Diaphragm
  GREEK
  diaphragma, partition.
• Digastric
  GREEK
  dis, double; gaster, belly

• E
• Eversion
  LATIN
  e-, out; vertere, to turn.
• Epicondyles
  GREEK
  epi, upon; kondulos, knob.
• Epididymis
  GREEK
  epi, upon; didumos, testis.
• Epigastric
  GREEK
  epi, upon; gaster, stomach; originally used to designate the area of the abdomen overlying the stomach.
• Epiglottis
  GREEK
  epi, upon; glottis, mouth of the windpipe.
• Epiploic
  GREEK
  epiploon, omentum.
• Esophagus
  GREEK
  oisophagos, gullet.

• F
• Falciform
  LATIN
  falx, sickle; forma, shape.
• Falx
  LATIN
  falx, sickle.
• Femoral
  LATIN
  femur, thigh.
• Fimbriae
  LATIN
  fimbria, fringe.
• Foramen
  LATIN
  foramen, aperture, hole.
• Fornix
  LATIN
  fornix, arch.
• Fossa
  LATIN
  fossa, trench or ditch, hence any concavity.
• Frenum
  LATIN
  frenum, bridle.
• Fallopian
   
  (Named after Fallopius, Italian anatomist.)

• G
• Galea
  LATIN
  galea, helmet.
• Gemellus
  LATIN
  gemelli, little twins.
• Geniculate
  LATIN
  genu, knee.
• Gracilis
  LATIN
  gracilis, slender.
• Ganglion
  GREEK
  ganglion, knot.
• Gastro-
  GREEK
  gaster, stomach.
• Gastrocnemius
  GREEK
  gaster, belly; kneme, leg; the bulge of the leg.
• Genio-
  GREEK
  geneion, bridle.
• Glenoid
  GREEK
  glene, socket.
• Gluteal
  GREEK
  gloutos, buttock.
• -glossus
  GREEK
  glossa, tongue
• -glottis
  GREEK
  glottis, mouth of the windpipe

• H
• Hallux
  LATIN
  hallux, great toe.
• Hamate
  LATIN
  hamus, hook.
• Hamulus
  LATIN
  hamulus, little hook
• Haustrum
  LATIN
  haustrum, pouch.
• Hiatus
  LATIN
  hiare, to yawn; hence an opening.
• Hilum
  LATIN
  hilum, point of attachment of a seed.
• Humerus
  LATIN
  humerus, bone of the upper arm from G omos, shoulder.
• Helix
  GREEK
  helix, coil.
• Hepatic
  GREEK
  hepar, liver.
• Hyoid
  GREEK
  u, letter U; eidos, like; i.e. U-shaped
• Hypogastric
  GREEK
  hupo, below; gaster, stomach; originally the area of the abdomen below the stomach.
• Hypothenar
  GREEK
  hypo, below; thenar, the palm.

• I
• Incus
  LATIN
  incus, anvil.
• Infundibulum
  LATIN
  infundibulum, funnel.
• Inguinal
  LATIN
  inguen, groin.
• Innominate
  LATIN
  innominatus, without a name.
• Interosseous
  LATIN
  inter, between; os, bone.
• Inversion
  LATIN
  in, in; vertere, to turn.
• Ileum
  GREEK
  eileos, twisted.
• Ilium
  GREEK
  eilien, to twist, the twisted bone.
• Iris
  GREEK
  iris, rainbow.
• Ischium
  GREEK
  ischion, socket of hip joint.

• J
• Jejunum
  LATIN
  jejunum, empty, hungry.
• Jugular
  LATIN
  jugularis, pertaining to the neck (from jugum, yoke)

• L
• Lacerum
  LATIN
  lacerus, torn.
• Lacuna
  LATIN
  lacuna, pit, hollow.
• Lamina
  LATIN
  lamina, thin plate.
• Latissimus dorsi
  LATIN
  latissimus, the widest; dorsi, of the back.
• Levator
  LATIN
  levator, lifter.
• Lieno-
  LATIN
  lien, spleen.
• Linea alba
  LATIN
  linea, white; alba, line.
• Linea aspera
  LATIN
  linea, line; aspera, rough.
• Lingula
  LATIN
  lingula, little tongue.
• Lumbrical
  LATIN
  lumbricus, worm.
• Lunate bone
  LATIN
  luna, moon.
• Larynx
  GREEK
  larynx, upper part of windpipe.

• M
• Malleolus
  LATIN
  malleolus, small hammer.
• Malleus
  LATIN
  malleus, hammer.
• Mamillary
  LATIN
  mammila, little breast.
• Manubrium
  LATIN
  manubrium, handle or hilt of weapon.
• Meatus
  LATIN
  meatus, passage.
• Medial
  LATIN
  medius, middle.
• Mediastinum
  LATIN
  media, middle; stare, stand, i.e. midline partition.
• Mental
  LATIN
  mentum, chin.
• Minimus
  LATIN
  minimus, smallest.
• Masseter
  GREEK
  masseter, chewer.
• Mastoid
  GREEK
  mastos, breast; eidos, like.

• N
• Navicular
  LATIN
  navicula, little ship, hence boat shaped.
• Nucha
  LATIN
  nucha, nape of neck.

• O
• Obturator
  LATIN
  obturare, to occlude; obturator foramen was named because it is largely occluded by the obturator membrane.
• Occipital
  LATIN
  occipitum, back part of head.
• Olfactory
  LATIN
  olere, to smell; facere, make.
• Ostium
  LATIN
  os, mouth.
• Odontoid
  GREEK
  odous, tooth; eidos, like.
• Olecranon
  GREEK
  olekranon, point of the elbow.
• Omo-
  GREEK
  omos, shoulder.

• P
• Palpebral
  LATIN
  palpebra, eyelid.
• Pampiniform
  LATIN
  pampinus, tendril + forma, shape.
• Papillary
  LATIN
  papilla, nipple.
• Parietal
  LATIN
  paries, wall.
• Parotid
  LATIN
  para,beside; otos, ear.
• Pectineus
  LATIN
  pecten, comb.
• Pectoralis
  LATIN
  pectus, chest.
• Pelvis
  LATIN
  pelvis, basin.
• Peroneal
  LATIN
  perone, fibula.
• Pia
  LATIN
  pia, soft.
• Pineal
  LATIN
  pinea, pine cone.
• Piriform, piriformis
  LATIN
  pirum, pear; forma, shape.
• Pisiform
  LATIN
  pisum, pea.
• Pituitary
  LATIN
  pituita, phlegm.
• Plantar, plantaris
  LATIN
  planta, sole of the foot.
• Pollicis
  LATIN
  pollex, thumb.
• Pons
  LATIN
  pons, bridge.
• Popliteal
  LATIN
  poples, back of the knee.
• Porta
  LATIN
  porta, doorway.
• Prepuce
  LATIN
  praeputium, foreskin.
• Profundus
  LATIN
  profundus, deep.
• Pubis
  LATIN
  pubes, adult; the part covered by pubic (i.e. adult) hair.
• Pudendal
  LATIN
  pudere, to be ashamed. Genitals (pudenda) were considered shameful parts.
• Punctum
  LATIN
  punctum, point.
• Papyracea
  GREEK
  papyros, papyrus, hence paper.
• Peritoneum
  GREEK
  peri, around; teinein, stretch.
• Pharynx
  GREEK
  pharynx, throat.
• Phrenic
  GREEK
  phren, diaphragm.
• Platysma
  GREEK
  platysma, spread out flat.
• Pleura
  GREEK
  pleuron, rib.
• Psoas
  GREEK
  psoai, loins.
• Pterygoid
  GREEK
  pteryx, wing; eidos, like.
• Pylorus
  GREEK
  pulouros, gate watcher.

• Q
• Quadratus
  LATIN
  quadratus, squared.
• Quadriceps
  LATIN
  quadri, four; caput, head.

• R
• Ramus
  LATIN
  ramus, branch.
• Rectum
  LATIN
  rectus, straight.
• Renal
  LATIN
  ren, kidney.
• Retinaculum
  LATIN
  retinaculum, a physical restraint.
• Risorius
  LATIN
  risus, laughter.
• Radius
  GREEK
  radix, rod.
• Rhomboid
  GREEK
  rhombus, four sided figure with equal sides.

• S
• Sacrum
  LATIN
  sacer, sacred.
• Sartorius
  LATIN
  sartor, tailor. The action of the muscle crosses the legs, in the position once assumed by tailors.
• Scrotum
  LATIN
  scortum, leather purse.
• Sella turcica
  LATIN
  sella, saddle; turcica, Turkish
• Serratus
  LATIN
  serratus, saw-toothed.
• Soleus
  LATIN
  solea, sole of foot; also sole, flat fish. Soleus muscle is named for the latter.
• Squamous
  LATIN
  squama, scale or plate.
• Stapes
  LATIN
  stapes, stirrup.
• Salpinx
  GREEK
  salpigx, trumpet.
• Scalene
  GREEK
  skalenos, irregular, the scalene muscles were first described as a single muscle; they form an irregular triangle.
• Scaphoid bone
  GREEK
  skaphe, scooped out.
• Sciatic
  GREEK
  ischion, hip joint.
• Sclera
  GREEK
  skleros, hard.
• Sesamoid
  GREEK
  sesamon, sesame seed; eidos, resembling.
• Sphenoid
  GREEK
  sphen, wedge; eidos, like. The s. bone is wedged among the other bones.
• Splanchnic
  GREEK
  splanchna, bowels.
• Styloid
  GREEK
  stylos, pillar; eidos, like.
• Symphysis
  GREEK
  syn, together; physis, growth.
• Saphenous
  ARABIC
  al safin, hidden.

• T
• Taenia
  LATIN
  tainia, tape.
• Talus
  LATIN
  talus, ankle.
• Tectorial
  LATIN
  tectum, roof
• Tentorium
  LATIN
  tentorium, tent.
• Teres
  LATIN
  teres, round.
• Torus
  LATIN
  torus, bulge.
• Trabecula
  LATIN
  trabecula, small timber or support.
• Triceps
  LATIN
  tris, three; caput, head.
• Trigeminal
  LATIN
  trigeminus, triplet.
• Triquetral
  LATIN
  triquetrus, three-cornered.
• Tubercle
  LATIN
  tuberculum, small swelling.
• Tympanic
  LATIN
  tympanum, tambourine.
• Tarsus
  GREEK
  tarsos, flat basket also oar blade.
• Thenar
  GREEK
  thenar, palm.
• Thorax
  GREEK
  thorax, chest.
• Thyroid
  GREEK
  thyreos, shield.
• Trachea
  GREEK
  tracheia, rough; the t. is so called because of its ridged wall.
• Tragus
  GREEK
  tragos, goat, from small tuft of hair near the ear.
• Trapezius
  GREEK
  trapezion, four-sided figure with two parallel sides.
• Trochanter
  GREEK
  trochanter, a roller.
• Trochlea
  GREEK
  trochilea, pulley.

• U
• Ulna
  LATIN
  ulna, elbow.
• Uncinate
  LATIN
  uncinatus, furnished with a hook.
• Uncus
  LATIN
  uncus, hook.
• Uterus
  LATIN
  uter, womb.
• Uvula
  LATIN
  uva, grape.

• V
• Vagina
  LATIN
  vagina, sheath.
• Vagus
  LATIN
  vagare, to wander, i.e. the wandering nerve.
• Vallecula
  LATIN
  vallecula, little valley
• Velum
  LATIN
  velum, curtain.
• Vena cava
  LATIN
  vena, vein; cava, hollow. An old mis-translation of an older GREEK term meaning vein of the belly.
• Vermis
  LATIN
  vermis, worm.
• Vesico-
  LATIN
  vesica, bladder.
• Vestibule
  LATIN
  vestibulum, antechamber.
• Vomer
  LATIN
  vomer, plowshare.

• X
• Xiphoid
  GREEK
  xiphos, sword.

• Z
• Zygomatic
  GREEK
  zygon, yoke.