Part 4

physiology (physiologist) Biological study of the functions of living organisms and their parts.

platysma Broad, thin muscle on each side of the neck, from the upper part of the shoulder to the corner of the mouth. They wrinkle the skin of the neck and depresses the corner of the mouth.

pleura Thin serous membrane in mammals that envelops each lung and folds back to make a lining for the chest cavity.

pleuritic (pleurisy) Inflammation of the pleura, often as a complication of a disease such as pneumonia, accompanied by accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity, chills, fever, and painful breathing and coughing.

plexus Network, as of nerves or blood vessels.

pneumothorax Air or gas in the pleural cavity.

popliteal Relating to the hollow part of the leg behind the knee joint.

probang Long, slender, elastic rod with a sponge at the end. It is introduced into the esophagus or larynx to remove foreign bodies or introduce medication.

pudic Pertaining to the external organs of generation.

pyriform Shaped like a pear.

radius Bone of the forearm on the thumb side. (See ulnar)

ramus A branch, as of a nerve, or blood vessel.

raphe Seamlike union between two parts or halves of an organ.

ratiocination Logical reasoning.

sacculated Formed with or having saclike expansions.

scirrhus Hard dense cancerous growth usually arising from connective tissue.

septa Thin partition dividing two cavities or soft masses of tissue.

sternum Bones extending along the middle line of the ventral portion of the body of most vertebrates, consisting in humans of a flat, narrow bone connected with the clavicles and the true ribs; breastbone.

stricture Abnormal narrowing of a duct or passage.

subclavian Beneath the clavicle.

submaxillary Pertaining to the lower jaw.

sui generis The only example of its kind; a class of its own; unique

superficies Outward appearance.

sutural Junction of two bones.

symphysis Growing together, or the fixed or nearly fixed union, of bones.

taxis Replacing of a displaced part, or the reducing of a hernia, by manipulation without cutting.

tegument (tegumentary, integument) Natural outer covering.

thorax (thoracic) Trunk between the neck and the abdomen, containing the cavity enclosed by the ribs, sternum, and certain vertebrae, containing the heart, lungs, etc.; chest.