Glossary
of Terms

• Cranium
  The cranium of the skull comprises all of the bones of the skull except for the mandible.
  
• Skull
  The skull refers to all of the bones that comprise the head.
  
• Calvaria
  The calvaria refers to the cranium without the facial bones attached.
  
• Calotte
  The calotte consists of the calvaria from which the base has been removed.
  
• Splanchocranium
  The splanchocranium refers to the facial bones of the skull.
  
• Neurocranium
  The neurocranium refers only to the braincase of the skull.
  
• Endocranial
  Refers to the interior of the braincase.
  
• Axial
  Refers to the head and trunk (vertebrae, ribs and sternum) of the body.
  
• Suture
  The saw-like edge of a cranial bone that serves as joint between bones of the skull.
  
• Aperture
  An opening or space between bones or within a bone.
  
• Cavity
  An open area or sinus within a bone or formed by two or more bones.
  
• Condyle
  A rounded enlargement or process possessing an artculating surface.
  
• Fissure
  A narrow slit or gap.
  
• Foramen
  A hole in a bone usually for the transmission of blood vessels and/or nerves.
  
• Fossa
  A pit, depression, or concavity, on a bone, or formed from several bones.
  
• Process
  A general term describing any marked projection or prominence.
  
• Spinous
  Descriptive of a sharp, slender process.
  
• Tubercle
  A small process or bump, an eminence.
  
• Tuberosity
  A large rounded process or eminence.
  

Anatomical terms:

• Mid-sagittal plane
  The imaginary plane that transects the the body along the mid-point into mirrored left and right sides.
  
• Anterior
  A relative term meaning nearer the front of the body, in a biped it also means ventral.
  
• Posterior
  A relative term meaning nearer the back of the body, in a biped it also means dorsal.
  
• Inferior
  The relative term meaning below or of the lower portion of the body.
  
• Superior
  The relative term meaning nearer the top or of the upper portion of the body.
  
• Proximal
  A relative term indicating a point nearer the trunk or axial skeleton, a point nearer the mid-sagittal plane.
  
• Distal
  A relative term indicating a point that lies farther from the trunk or away from the mid-sagittal plane.
  
• Medial
  The relative term indicating a point lying nearer the mid-sagittal plane.
  
• Lateral
  The relative term indicating a point lying farther from the mid-sagittal plane or the midline of the body.
  
• Lingual
  Areas nearer the tongue or oral cavity.
  
• Labial
  Areas nearer the lips or cheeks.
  

Return to:

Skull Module

Parietals Temporals Frontal Occipital Sphenoid

Ethmoid Lacrimals Nasals Zygomatics Maxillae

Palatines Inferior Nasal Conchae Vomer Mandible Hyoid