- fossa
- A depression usually more or less longitudinal in shape below the level of the surface of a part. [L. a trench or ditch]- acetabular f. [TA] a depressed area in the floor of the acetabulum superior to the acetabular notch. SYN: f. acetabuli [TA].- f. acetabuli [TA] SYN: acetabular f..- amygdaloid f. SYN: tonsillar f..- anconal f. SYN: olecranon f..- anterior cranial f. [TA] the portion of the internal base of the skull, anterior to the sphenoidal ridges and limbus, in which the frontal lobes of the brain rest. SYN: f. cranii anterior [TA], anterior cranial base.- f. anthelicis SYN: f. antihelica.- f. antihelica [TA] the depression on the medial surface of the auricle that corresponds to the anthelix. SYN: f. anthelicis, f. of anthelix, periconchal sulcus.- f. axillaris SYN: axilla.- Bichat f. SYN: pterygopalatine f..- Biesiadecki f. SYN: iliacosubfascial f..- Broesike f. SYN: parajejunal f..- f. canina [TA] SYN: canine f..- canine f. [TA] a depression on the anterior surface of the maxilla below the infraorbital foramen and on the lateral side of the canine eminence. SYN: f. canina [TA].- f. carotica SYN: carotid triangle.- cerebellar f. [TA] the large concave impressions on the inner surface of the occipital bone on either side of the foramen magnum and internal occipital crest, housing the cerebellar hemispheres; a part of the posterior cranial f.. SYN: f. cerebellaris [TA].- f. cerebellaris [TA] SYN: cerebellar f..- condylar f. [TA] a depression behind the condyle of the occipital bone in which the posterior margin of the superior facet of the atlas lies in extension. SYN: f. condylaris [TA].- f. condylaris [TA] SYN: condylar f..- coronoid f. of humerus [TA] a hollow on the anterior surface of the distal end of the humerus, just above the trochlea, in which the coronoid process of the ulna rests when the elbow is flexed. SYN: f. coronoidea humeri [TA].- cubital f. [TA] the f. in front of the elbow, bounded laterally and medially by the humeral origins of the extensors and flexors of the forearm, respectively, and superiorly by an imaginary line connecting the humeral condyles. SYN: f. cubitalis [TA], antecubital space, chelidon, triangle of elbow.- f. cubitalis [TA] SYN: cubital f..- digastric f. [TA] a hollow on the posterior surface of the base of the mandible, on either side of the median plane, giving attachment to the anterior belly of the digastric muscle. SYN: f. digastrica [TA].- f. digastrica [TA] SYN: digastric f..- f. of ductus venosus a wide groove located posteriorly on the undersurface of the fetal liver between the caudate and left lobes; it lodges the ductus venosus and becomes the fissure of the ligamentum venosum in the adult. SYN: f. ductus venosi.- epigastric f. [TA] the slight depression in the midline just inferior to the xiphoid process of the sternum. (TA lists this term as synonymous with epigastric region). SYN: f. epigastrica [TA], pit of stomach, scrobiculus cordis.- f. epigastrica [TA] SYN: epigastric f..- femoral f. a depression on the peritoneal surface of the abdominal wall, inferior to the inguinal ligament, corresponding to the situation of the femoral ring. SYN: crural f., fovea femoralis.- floccular f. SYN: subarcuate f..- f. for gallbladder [TA] a depression on the visceral surface of the liver anteriorly, between the quadrate and the right lobes, lodging the gallbladder. SYN: f. vesicae biliaris [TA], f. vesicae felleae, gallbladder f..- greater supraclavicular f. [TA] formerly considered a synonym for omoclavicular triangle (a subdivision of the posterior triangle of the neck); Terminologica Anatomica reserves this term for the surface feature that overlies the omoclavicular triangle : a depressed area above the middle of the clavicle, lateral to the sternocleidomastoid. SYN: f. supraclavicularis major [TA].- hyaloid f. [TA] a depression on the anterior surface of the vitreous body in which lies the lens. SYN: f. hyaloidea [TA], lenticular f., patellar f. of vitreous.- f. hyaloidea [TA] SYN: hyaloid f..- hypophysial f. [TA] f. of the sphenoid bone housing the pituitary gland. SEE ALSO: sella turcica. SYN: f. hypophysialis [TA], pituitary f..- f. hypophysialis [TA] SYN: hypophysial f..- iliac f. [TA] the smooth inner surface of the ilium above the arcuate line, giving attachment to the iliacus muscle. SYN: f. iliaca [TA].- f. iliaca [TA] SYN: iliac f..- iliacosubfascial f. a peritoneal recess between the psoas muscle and the crest of the ilium. SYN: Biesiadecki f., f. iliacosubfascialis.- f. iliacosubfascialis SYN: iliacosubfascial f..- iliopectineal f. a hollow between the iliopsoas and pectineus muscles in the center of the femoral triangle, lodging the femoral vessels and nerve.- f. incisiva [TA] SYN: incisive f..- incisive f. [TA] the depression in the midline of the bony palate behind the central incisors into which the incisive canals open. SYN: f. incisiva [TA].- f. of incus [TA] a small depression in the lower and posterior part of the epitympanic recess that lodges the short limb of the incus. SYN: f. incudis, incudal f..- inferior duodenal f. [TA] the variable peritoneal recess which lies behind the inferior duodenal fold and along the ascending part of the duodenum. SYN: recessus duodenalis inferior [TA], Gruber-Landzert f., inferior duodenal recess.- infraclavicular f. [TA] a triangular depression bounded by the clavicle and the adjacent borders of the deltoid and pectoralis major muscles. SYN: f. infraclavicularis [TA], deltoideopectoral trigone, infraclavicular triangle, Mohrenheim f., Mohrenheim space, regio infraclavicularis.- f. infraclavicularis [TA] SYN: infraclavicular f..- infraduodenal f. SYN: retroduodenal recess.- f. infraspinata [TA] SYN: infraspinous f..- infraspinous f. [TA] the hollow on the dorsal aspect of the scapula inferior to the spine, giving attachment chiefly to the infraspinatus muscle. SYN: f. infraspinata [TA].- infratemporal f. [TA] the cavity on the side of the skull bounded laterally by the zygomatic arch and ramus of the mandible, medially by the lateral pterygoid plate, anteriorly by the zygomatic process of the maxilla and infratemporal surface of the maxilla, posteriorly by the tympanic plate and styloid and mastoid processes of the temporal bone, and superiorly by the infratemporal surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. SYN: f. infratemporalis [TA], zygomatic f..- f. infratemporalis [TA] SYN: infratemporal f..- f. innominata SYN: innominate f..- innominate f. a shallow depression between the false vocal cord and the aryepiglottic fold on either side. SYN: f. innominata.- intercondylar f. [TA] the deep f. between the femoral condyles in which the cruciate ligaments are attached. SYN: f. intercondylaris [TA], intercondyloid f. (2), intercondylic f., intercondyloid notch, popliteal notch.- f. intercondylaris [TA] SYN: intercondylar f..- intercondyloid f., intercondylic f. 1. See area intercondylaris anterior tibiae, area intercondylaris posterior tibiae. 2. SYN: intercondylar f..- f. intermesocolica transversa SYN: transverse intermesocolic f..- interpeduncular f. [TA] deep depression on the inferior surface of the mesencephalon, between the crura cerebri, the floor of which is formed by the posterior perforated substance. See interpeduncular cistern. SYN: f. interpeduncularis [TA].- f. interpeduncularis [TA] SYN: interpeduncular f..- intrabulbar f. the dilated commencement of the spongy part of the male urethra lying within the bulb of the penis.- ischioanal f. [TA] a wedge-shaped space with its base toward the perineum and lying between the tuberosity of the ischium and the obturator internus muscle laterally and the external anal sphincter and the levator ani muscle medially. SYN: f. ischioanalis [TA], f. ischiorectalis, ischiorectal f., Velpeau f..- f. ischioanalis [TA] SYN: ischioanal f..- ischiorectal f. SYN: ischioanal f..- f. ischiorectalis SYN: ischioanal f..- Jobert de Lamballe f. the hollow just above the knee formed by the adductor magnus and the sartorius and gracilis.- jugular f. [TA] an oval depression near the posterior border of the petrous portion of the temporal bone, medial to the styloid process, in which lies the beginning of the internal jugular vein (jugular bulb); SYN: f. jugularis [TA].- f. jugularis [TA] SYN: jugular f..- f. for lacrimal gland [TA] a hollow in the orbital plate of the frontal bone, formed by the overhanging margin and zygomatic process, lodging the lacrimal gland. SYN: f. glandulae lacrimalis [TA], lacrimal f..- f. for lacrimal sac [TA] a f. formed by the lacrimal bone and the frontal process of the maxilla, lodging the lacrimal sac. SYN: f. sacci lacrimalis [TA].- Landzert f. a f. formed by two peritoneal folds, enclosing the left colic artery and the inferior mesenteric vein, respectively, at the side of the duodenum; it is smaller than the paraduodenal recess which is sometimes found in the same region.- lateral cerebral f. [TA] the deep depression of the basal surface of the forebrain that corresponds in position to the anterior perforated substance. Bounded medially by the optic tract and rostrally by the orbital surface of the frontal lobe, it extends laterally around the overhanging pole of the temporal lobe into the Sylvian fissure (sulcus lateralis). SYN: f. lateralis cerebri [TA], f. of Sylvius, lateral f. of brain, vallecula sylvii.- lateral inguinal f. [TA] a depression on the peritoneal surface of the anterior abdominal wall lateral to the ridge formed by the inferior epigastric artery; it corresponds to the position of the deep inguinal ring, and is the site of an indirect inguinal hernia. SYN: f. inguinalis lateralis [TA].- f. of lateral malleolus [TA] a large rough depression on the medial aspect of the lower end of the fibula just behind the articular facet for the talus giving attachment to the posterior talofibular and the transverse tibiofibular ligaments. SYN: f. malleoli lateralis [TA], digital f. (2), f. malleoli fibulae.- lenticular f. SYN: hyaloid f..- lesser supraclavicular f. [TA] a triangular space between the two heads of origin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. SYN: f. supraclavicularis minor [TA].- mandibular f. [TA] a deep hollow in the squamous portion of the temporal bone at the root of the zygoma, in which rests the condyle of the mandible. SYN: f. mandibularis [TA], articular f. of temporal bone, cavitas glenoidalis, glenoid cavity, glenoid f. (2), glenoid surface.- f. mandibularis [TA] SYN: mandibular f..- mastoid f., f. mastoidea SYN: suprameatal triangle.- medial inguinal f. [TA] a depression on the peritoneal surface of the anterior abdominal wall between the ridges formed by the inferior epigastric artery and the medial umbilical ligament; it corresponds to the position of the superficial inguinal ring and is the site of a direct inguinal hernia. SYN: f. inguinalis medialis [TA], fovea inguinalis interna.- Merkel f. a groove in the posterolateral wall of the vestibule of the larynx between the corniculate and cuneiform cartilages.- mesentericoparietal f. SYN: parajejunal f..- middle cranial f. [TA] a butterfly-shaped portion of the internal base of the skull posterior to the sphenoidal ridges and limbus and anterior to the crests of the petrous part of the temporal bones and dorsum sellae; it lodges the temporal lobes of the brain in the lateral portions, and the hypophysis centrally. SYN: f. cranii media [TA].- Mohrenheim f. SYN: infraclavicular f..- f. navicularis auriculae SYN: triangular f. of auricle.- f. navicularis vestibulae vaginae SYN: vestibular f..- navicular f. of urethra [TA] the terminal dilated portion of the urethra in the glans penis. SYN: f. navicularis urethrae [TA], f. terminalis urethrae, Morgagni f., Morgagni fovea.- f. olecrani [TA] SYN: olecranon f..- olecranon f. [TA] a hollow on the dorsum of the distal end of the humerus, just above the trochlea, in which the olecranon process of the ulna rests when the elbow is extended. SYN: f. olecrani [TA], anconal f..- oval f. f. ovalis (1).- f. ovalis 1. [NA], an oval depression on the lower part of the septum of the right atrium; it is a vestige of the foramen ovale, and its floor corresponds to the septum primum of the fetal heart; SYN: oval f.. 2. SYN: saphenous opening.- f. of oval window [TA] a depression on the medial wall of the middle ear that has the oval window (fenestra vestibulae) in its lower portion. SYN: fossula fenestrae vestibuli [TA], Huguier sinus, little f. of the oval (vestibular) window.- ovarian f. [TA] a depression in the parietal peritoneum of the pelvis; it is bounded in front by the occluded part of the umbilical artery, and behind by the ureter and the uterine vessels; it lodges the ovary. SYN: f. ovarica [TA], Claudius f..- f. ovarica [TA] SYN: ovarian f..- paraduodenal f. SYN: paraduodenal recess.- parajejunal f. a peritoneal f. that has been seen in a few cases in which the jejunum has no mesentery but is attached to the posterior parietal peritoneum; the f. begins at the point where the mesentery ends, and is seen on raising up the knuckle of free intestine. SYN: Broesike f., f. parajejunalis, mesentericoparietal f., mesentericoparietal recess.- f. parajejunalis SYN: parajejunal f..- pararectal f. [TA] a peritoneal depression on either side of the rectum formed by peritoneal (sacrogenital) folds passing from the posterolateral pelvic wall to the central pelvic viscera. The f. is a lateral extension of the male rectovesical pouch or the female rectouterine pouch. SYN: f. pararectalis [TA], pararectal pouch.- f. pararectalis [TA] SYN: pararectal f..- paravesical f. [TA] a peritoneal depression formed by the reflection of the peritoneum from the lateral pelvic wall onto the roof of the bladder; in the female, it is the lateral portion of the uterovesical pouch, and is separated from the pararectal pouch, which lies posteriorly, by the broad ligament. SYN: f. paravesicalis [TA], paracystic pouch, paravesical pouch.- f. paravesicalis [TA] SYN: paravesical f..- peritoneal fossae depressions or pouches formed between various peritoneal folds; they may be the sites of internal hernias.- piriform f. [TA] a recess in the anterolateral wall of the nasopharynx on each side of the vestible of the larynx separated from it by the aryepiglottic folds. SYN: recessus piriformis [TA], piriform recess, piriform sinus.- pituitary f. SYN: hypophysial f..- f. poplitea [TA] SYN: popliteal f..- popliteal f. [TA] the diamond-shaped space posterior to the knee joint bounded superficially by the diverging biceps femoris and semimembranosus muscles above and inferiorly by the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle; deeply, the f. is bound superiorly by the diverging supracondylar lines of the femur and the soleal line of the tibia inferiorly. Contents: tibial nerve, popliteal artery, vein, fat. SYN: f. poplitea [TA], ham (1), poples, popliteal region, popliteal space, popliteus (2).- posterior cranial f. [TA] the internal base of the skull posterior to the crest of the petrous part of the temporal bones and the dorsum sellae and anterior to the grooves for the transverse sinuses, where the cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata rest. SYN: f. cranii posterior [TA].- f. provesicalis SYN: Hartmann pouch.- pterygoid f. [TA] the f. formed by the divergence posteriorly of the plates of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone; it lodges the origin of medial pterygoid and the tensor palati muscles. SYN: f. pterygoidea [TA].- f. pterygoidea [TA] SYN: pterygoid f..- pterygomaxillary f. SYN: pterygopalatine f..- f. pterygopalatina [TA] SYN: pterygopalatine f..- pterygopalatine f. [TA] sphenomaxillary f., a small pyramidal space, housing the pterygopalatine ganglion, between the pterygoid process, the maxilla, and the palatine bone. SYN: f. pterygopalatina [TA], Bichat f., pterygomaxillary f., sphenomaxillary f..- radial f. of humerus [TA] a shallow depression on the anterior aspect of the distal humerus, superior to the capitulum of the humerus and lateral to the coronoid f., in which the margin of the head of the radius rests when the elbow is in extreme flexion. SYN: f. radialis humeri [TA].- retroduodenal f. SYN: retroduodenal recess.- retromandibular f. the depression inferior to the auricle and posterior to the ramus and angle of the mandible. SYN: f. retromandibularis.- f. retromandibularis SYN: retromandibular f..- retromolar f. [TA] a triangular depression in the mandible posterior to the third molar tooth. SYN: f. retromolaris [TA].- f. retromolaris [TA] SYN: retromolar f..- rhomboid f. [TA] the floor of the fourth ventricle of the brain, formed by the ventricular surface of the rhombencephalon. SYN: f. rhomboidea [TA].- f. rhomboidea [TA] SYN: rhomboid f..- Rosenmüller f. SYN: pharyngeal recess.- f. of round window [TA] a depression on the medial wall of the middle ear which has the round window (fenestra cochleae) in its lower portion. SYN: fossula fenestrae cochleae [TA], fossula rotunda, little f. of the cochlear window.- scaphoid f. [TA] a boat-shaped hollow. SEE ALSO: scaphoid f. of sphenoid bone. SYN: f. scaphoidea [TA].- f. scaphoidea [TA] SYN: scaphoid f..- scaphoid f. of sphenoid bone a longitudinal hollow on the posterior surface of the superior portion (root) of the medial pterygoid plate; it gives origin to the tensor veli palati muscle. SYN: Cruveilhier f., f. navicularis Cruveilhier, f. scaphoidea ossis sphenoidalis.- sphenomaxillary f. SYN: pterygopalatine f..- f. subarcuata [TA] SYN: subarcuate f..- subarcuate f. [TA] an irregular depression on the posterior surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone just below its crest and above and lateral to the internal acoustic meatus. In the fetus, the flocculus of the cerebellum rests here; in the adult, a small vein enters the bone here. SYN: f. subarcuata [TA], floccular f., hiatus subarcuatus.- subcecal f. an inconstant depression in the peritoneum extending posterior to the cecum. SYN: Treitz f..- sublingual f. [TA] a shallow depression on either side of the mental spine, on the inner surface of the body of the mandible, superior to the mylohyoid line, lodging the sublingual gland. SYN: fovea sublingualis [TA], sublingual pit.- submandibular f. [TA] the depression on the medial surface of the body of the mandible inferior to the mylohyoid line in which the submandibular gland is lodged. SYN: fovea submandibularis [TA], f. submandibularis, fovea submaxillaris, submaxillary f..- f. submandibularis SYN: submandibular f..- submaxillary f. SYN: submandibular f..- subscapular f. [TA] the concave ventral aspect of the body of the scapula giving origin to the subscapularis muscle. SYN: f. subscapularis [TA].- f. subscapularis [TA] SYN: subscapular f..- superior duodenal f. [TA] a peritoneal recess extending upward behind the superior duodenal fold. SYN: recessus duodenalis superior [TA], superior duodenal recess, duodenojejunal f., duodenojejunal recess, Jonnesco f..- supramastoid f. SYN: suprameatal triangle.- f. supraspinata [TA] SYN: supraspinous f..- supraspinous f. [TA] the hollow on the dorsal aspect of the scapula above the spine, lodging the supraspinatus muscle. SYN: f. supraspinata [TA].- supratonsillar f. [TA] the interval between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches above the tonsil, most obvious after the tonsil has regressed in the adult. SYN: f. supratonsillaris [TA], supratonsillar recess, Tourtual sinus.- f. supratonsillaris [TA] SYN: supratonsillar f..- supravesical f. [TA] the depression on the peritoneal surface of the anterior abdominal wall above the bladder and between the median and medial umbilical folds. Its level, relative to the pubis, changes with filling of the bladder. SYN: f. supravesicalis [TA], fovea supravesicalis.- f. supravesicalis [TA] SYN: supravesical f..- temporal f. [TA] the space on the side of the cranium bounded by the temporal lines and terminating below at the level of the zygomatic arch. SYN: f. temporalis [TA].- f. temporalis [TA] SYN: temporal f..- tonsillar f. [TA] the depression between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches occupied by the palatine tonsil. SYN: f. tonsillaris [TA], amygdaloid f., sinus tonsillaris.- f. tonsillaris [TA] SYN: tonsillar f..- transverse intermesocolic f. a f. occupying the position of the superior duodenal recess but extending transversely from right to left for a few cms. SYN: f. intermesocolica transversa.- triangular f. of auricle [TA] the depression at the upper part of the auricle between the two crura of the anthelix. SYN: f. triangularis auriculae [TA], f. navicularis auriculae.- f. triangularis auriculae [TA] SYN: triangular f. of auricle.- trochanteric f. a depression at the root of the neck of the femur beneath the curved tip of the great trochanter; it gives attachment to the tendon of the obturator externus. SYN: digital f. (1), f. trochanterica.- f. trochanterica SYN: trochanteric f..- f. trochlearis SYN: trochlear fovea.- Velpeau f. SYN: ischioanal f..- f. venae umbilicalis SYN: fissure for ligamentum teres.- f. venosa SYN: paraduodenal recess.- vermian f. a small depression near the lower part of the internal occipital crest that lodges part of the inferior vermis of the cerebellum.- f. vesicae biliaris [TA] SYN: f. for gallbladder.- f. vesicae felleae f. for gallbladder.- vestibular f. [TA] the portion of the vestibule of the vagina between the frenulum of the labia minora and the posterior labial commissure of the vulva. SYN: f. vestibuli vaginae [TA], f. navicularis vestibulae vaginae, f. of vestibule of vagina.- f. vestibuli vaginae [TA] SYN: vestibular f..- zygomatic f. SYN: infratemporal f..
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fos·sa 'fäs-ə n, pl fos·sae -.ē, -.ī an anatomical pit, groove, or depression <the temporal \fossa of the skull> <the \fossa in the liver for the gallbladder>fos·sate -.āt adj* * *
n. (pl. fossae)a depression or hollow. The cubital fossa is the triangular hollow at the front of the elbow joint; the iliac fossa is the depression in the inner surface of the ilium; the pituitary fossa is the hollow in the sphenoid bone in which the pituitary gland is situated; a <is a pit in the enamel on the surface of a tooth. * * *
fos·sa (fosґə) gen. and pl. fosґsae [L.][TA] a trench, channel, or hollow place.Descriptions are given on TA terms, and include anglicized names of specific fossae.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
