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Anatomical structure table
table started by
Freebase Data Team for the Medicine Commons
"Anatomical structure" refers to any discrete part of the human body; most anatomical structures will be co-typed with a more specific type, such as...
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| x name | x image | x article |
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| x Axon |
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An axon or nerve fiber is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body or soma.
Axons are in effect the primary transmission lines of the nervous system, and as bundles...
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| x Aorta |
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The aorta (/eɪˈɔrtə/, from Greek, aeiro, to lift up) is the largest blood vessel in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and bringing oxygenated blood to all parts of the body in the systemic circulation.
The aorta is usually...
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| x Dendrite |
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Dendrites (from Greek δένδρον déndron, “tree”) are the branched projections of a neuron that act to conduct the electrochemical stimulation received from other neural cells to the cell body, or soma, of the neuron from which the dendrites project....
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| x Entorhinal cortex |
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The entorhinal cortex (EC) is an important memory center in the brain. The EC forms the main input to the hippocampus and is responsible for the pre-processing (familiarity) of the input signals. In the reflex nictitating membrane response of...
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| x Rectum |
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The rectum (from the Latin rectum intestinum, meaning straight intestine) is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long. At its commencement...
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| x Spermatozoon |
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A sperm, from the ancient Greek word σπέρμα (seed) and ζῷον (living being) and more commonly known as a sperm cell, is the haploid cell that is the male gamete. It joins an ovum to form a zygote. A zygote is a single cell, with a complete set of...
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| x Uterus |
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The uterus (Latin word for womb) is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation. The term uterus is used consistently within the medical...
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| x Urinary bladder |
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In anatomy, the urinary bladder (roughly translated from vesicle) is a hollow muscular, and distensible (or elastic) organ that sits on the pelvic floor. It is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys prior to disposal by urination....
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| x Vagina |
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The vagina (from Latin, literally "sheath" or "scabbard") is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some...
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| x White matter |
White matter is one of the two components of the central nervous system and consists mostly of myelinated axons. White matter tissue of the freshly cut brain appears pinkish white to the naked eye because of myelin is composed largely of lipid and a...
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| x Cranial nerves |
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Cranial nerves are nerves that emerge directly from the brain stem in contrast to spinal nerves which emerge from segments of the spinal cord. Although thirteen cranial nerves in humans fit this description, twelve are conventionally recognized. The...
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| x Vagus nerve |
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The vagus nerve (pronounced /ˈveɪɡəs/ us dict: vā′·gəs), also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X, is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves, and is the only nerve that starts in the brainstem (within the medulla oblongata) and extends,...
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| x Grey matter |
Grey matter (or gray matter) is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of neuronal cell bodies, neuropil (dendrites and both unmyelinated axons and myelinated axons), glial cells (astroglia and oligodendrocytes) and capillaries....
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| x Putamen |
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The putamen is a round structure located at the base of the forebrain (telencephalon). The putamen and caudate nucleus together form the dorsal striatum. It is also one of the structures that comprises the basal ganglia. Through various pathways,...
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| x Pancreas |
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The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as an exocrine gland, secreting pancreatic...
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| x Mesoderm |
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One of the three germ layers found in the embryos of animals more complex than cnidarians, making them triploblastic. Mesoderm forms in the embryo during gastrulation when some of the cells migrating inward to form the endoderm, produce an...
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| x Stomach |
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In most mammals, the stomach is a hollow, muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract (digestive system), between the throat and the small intestine. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication (chewing). The word stomach...
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| x Broca's area |
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Broca's area is a region of the brain responsible for speech production.
The importance of Broca’s area in producing language has been recognized since Paul Pierre Broca reported impairments in two patients he encountered. They had lost the ability...
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| x Peritoneum |
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In higher vertebrates and some invertebrates (annelids, for instance), the peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal (or coelomic) organs. It is composed of...
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| x Substantia nigra |
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The substantia nigra is a brain structure located in the mesencephalon (midbrain) that plays an important role in reward, addiction, and movement. Substantia nigra is Latin for "black substance", as parts of the substantia nigra appear darker than...
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| x Atlas |
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In anatomy, the atlas (C1) is the topmost (first) cervical vertebra of the spine.
It is named for the Atlas of mythology, because it supports the globe of the head.
The atlas is the topmost vertebra, and – along with the Axis – forms the joint...
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| x Scrotum |
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In some male mammals the scrotum is a protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles. It is an extension of the abdomen, and is located between the penis and anus. In humans and some other mammals, the base of the scrotum becomes covered...
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| x Prostate |
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The prostate (from Greek προστάτης - prostates, literally "one who stands before", "protector", "guardian") is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland of the male mammalian reproductive system. Females also have prostate glands, previously called...
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| x Inner ear |
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The inner ear is the bony labyrinth, a system of passages comprising two main functional parts:
Inner ears are found in all vertebrates, with substantial variations in the form and function of their sensory organs. Each animal has two inner ears,...
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| x Outer ear |
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The outer ear has no bones. It is the external portion of the ear, which consists of the pinna, concha, and auditory meatus. It gathers sound energy and focuses it on the eardrum (tympanic membrane). One consequence of the configuration of the...
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| x Pituitary gland |
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The pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 g (0.02 oz.). It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity (sella turcica)...
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| x Hypothalamus |
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The hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions of the hypothalamus is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland ...
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| x Colon |
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The colon is the last portion of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body.
In mammals, the colon consists of four sections: the ascending colon, the transverse...
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| x Large intestine |
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The large intestine is the last part of the digestive system—the final stage of the alimentary canal—in vertebrate animals. Its function is to absorb water from the remaining indigestible food matter, and then to pass useless waste material from the...
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| x Pharynx |
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The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the neck and throat situated immediately posterior to (behind) the mouth and nasal cavity, and cranial, or superior, to the esophagus, larynx, and trachea.
The pharynx is part of the digestive system...
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| x Carpus |
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In tetrapods, the carpals is the sole cluster of the bones in the wrist between the radius and ulna and the metacarpus. The bones of the carpus do not belong to individual fingers (or toes in quadrupeds), whereas those of the metacarpus do. The...
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| x Thoracic cavity |
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The thoracic cavity (or chest cavity) is the chamber of the human body (and other animal bodies) that is protected by the thoracic wall (thoracic cage and associated skin, muscle, and fascia).
Structures within the thoracic cavity include:
It...
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| x Abdominal cavity |
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The abdominal cavity is the body cavity of the human body (and animal bodies) that holds the bulk of the viscera and which is located below (or inferior to) the thoracic cavity, and above the pelvic cavity. It is a part of the abdominopelvic cavity....
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| x Mucous membrane |
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The mucous membranes (or mucosae; singular mucosa) are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and...
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| x Duodenum |
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The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms anterior intestine or proximal intestine may be...
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| x Trachea |
Trachea is a common term for an airway through which respiratory air passes in organisms. In vertebrates, it is held open by up to 20 C-shaped rings of cartilage, and may also be known as the "windpipe."
Trachea may refer to:
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| x Exocrine gland |
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Exocrine glands are glands that secrete their products (hormones) into ducts (duct glands). They are the counterparts to endocrine glands, which secrete their products (hormones) directly into the bloodstream (ductless glands) or release hormones ...
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| x Thalamus |
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The thalamus (from Greek θάλαμος = room, chamber, IPA= /ˈθæləməs/) is a midline paired symmetrical structure within the brain of vertebrate animals, including humans. It is between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain, both in terms of its location...
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| x Ossicles |
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Not to be confused with ossicones.
The ossicles (also called auditory ossicles) are the three smallest bones in the human body. They are contained within the middle ear space and serve to transmit sounds from the air to the fluid-filled labyrinth ...
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| x Incus |
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The incus or anvil is the anvil-shaped small bone or ossicle in the middle ear. It connects the malleus to the stapes. It was first described by Alessandro Achillin of Bologna.
The incus transmits sound vibrations from the malleus to the stapes. The...
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| x Malleus |
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The malleus or hammer is a hammer-shaped small bone or ossicle of the middle ear which connects with the incus and is attached to the inner surface of the eardrum. The word is Latin for hammer.
It transmits the sound vibrations from the eardrum to...
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| x Stapes |
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The stapes or stirrup is the stirrup-shaped small bone or ossicle in the middle ear which is attached to the incus laterally and to the fenestra ovalis, the "oval window" medially. The oval window is adjacent to the vestibule of the inner ear. The...
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| x Basal ganglia |
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The basal ganglia (or basal nuclei) are a group of nuclei in the brain interconnected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus and brainstem. Mammalian basal ganglia are associated with a variety of functions: motor control, cognition, emotions, and...
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| x Cecum |
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The cecum or caecum (from the Latin caecus meaning blind) is a pouch, connecting the ileum with the ascending colon of the large intestine. It is separated from the ileum by the ileocecal valve (ICV) or Bauhin's valve, and is considered to be the...
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| x Ileum |
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The ileum is the final section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms posterior intestine or distal intestine may be...
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| x Jejunum |
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The jejunum is the middle section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms middle intestine or mid-gut may be used instead...
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| x Vermiform appendix |
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In human anatomy, the appendix (or vermiform appendix; also cecal (or caecal) appendix; also vermix) is a blind-ended tube connected to the cecum (or caecum), from which it develops embryologically. The cecum is a pouchlike structure of the colon....
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| x Oval window |
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The oval window (or vestibular window) is a membrane-covered opening which leads from the middle ear to the vestibule of the inner ear.
Vibrations that come into contact with the tympanic membrane travel through the three ossicles and into the inner...
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| x Eardrum |
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The tympanic membrane (also tympanum or myrinx), is a thin membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. Its function is to transmit sound from the air to the ossicles inside the middle ear. The malleus bone bridges the gap between...
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| x Coronary circulation |
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Coronary circulation is the circulation of blood in the blood vessels of the heart muscle. Although blood fills the chambers of the heart, the muscle tissue of the heart (the myocardium) is so thick that it requires coronary blood vessels to deliver...
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| x Optic nerve |
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The optic nerve, also called cranial nerve II, transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.
The optic nerve is the second of twelve paired cranial nerves but is considered to be part of the central nervous system as it is derived from...
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| x Pudendal nerve |
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The pudendal nerve is a somatic nerve in the pelvic region that innervates the external genitalia of both sexes, as well as sphincters for the bladder and the rectum. It originates in Onuf's nucleus in the sacral region of the spinal cord.
The...
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| x Neurolemma |
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Neurolemma (also known as neurilemma or sheath of Schwann) is the outermost nucleated cytoplasmic layer of Schwann cells that surrounds the axon of the neuron. It forms the outermost layer of the nerve fiber in the peripheral nervous system.
The...
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| x Bartholin's gland |
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The Bartholin's glands (also called Bartholin glands or greater vestibular glands) are two glands located slightly below and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina in women. They were first described in the 17th century, by the Danish...
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| x Esophagus |
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The oesophagus (see American and British English spelling differences), sometimes known as the gullet, is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. The word esophagus is...
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| x Bulbourethral gland |
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A bulbourethral gland, also called a Cowper's gland for anatomist William Cowper, is one of two small exocrine glands present in the reproductive system of human males. They are homologous to Bartholin's glands in females.
Bulbourethral glands are...
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| x Amnion |
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The amnion is a membranous sac that surrounds and protects an embryo. It is developed in reptiles, birds, and mammals, which are hence called “Amniota”; but not in amphibians and fish (Ichthyopsida), which are consequently termed “Anamniota”. The...
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| x Ureter |
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In human anatomy, the ureters are muscular ducts that propel urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. In the adult, the ureters are usually 25–30 cm (10–12 in) long.
In humans, the ureters arise from the renal pelvis on the medial aspect of...
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| x Levator ani |
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The Levator ani is a broad, thin muscle, situated on the side of the pelvis.
It is attached to the inner surface of the side of the lesser pelvis, and unites with its fellow of the opposite side to form the greater part of the floor of the pelvic...
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| x Femur |
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The femur, or thigh bone, is the most proximal (closest to the body) bone of the leg in vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs.
In human anatomy, the...
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