Facet
/ˈfæsɪt/
A small, smooth surface on a bone where it articulates with another bone.
Falciform
/ˈfælsɪfɔːrm/
Sickle-shaped; specifically the ligament that attaches the liver to the abdominal wall.
Falx Cerebri
/fælkssəˈriːbraɪ/
A large, sickle-shaped fold of dura mater that separates the two cerebral hemispheres.
Fascia
/ˈfæʃiə/
A thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, and muscle in place.
Fasciculus
/fəˈsɪkjʊləs/
A bundle of structures, such as nerve or muscle fibers.
Fauces
/ˈfɔːsiːz/
The arched opening at the back of the mouth leading into the pharynx.
Femoral
/ˈfɛmərəl/
Relating to the femur or the thigh.
Femur
/ˈfiːmər/
The bone of the thigh; the longest and strongest bone in the human body.
Fenestra
/fəˈnɛstrə/
A small anatomical opening, such as the oval window in the middle ear.
Fibula
/ˈfɪbjʊlə/
The outer and smaller of the two bones between the knee and the ankle.
Filament
/ˈfɪləmənt/
A slender threadlike object or fiber, found in muscle tissue (myofilaments).
Filiform
/ˈfɪlɪfɔːrm/
Thread-like papillae on the tongue that do not contain taste buds but provide friction.
Filum Terminale
/ˈfaɪləm ˌtɜːrmɪˈneɪli/
A delicate strand of fibrous tissue extending from the end of the spinal cord.
Fimbriae
/ˈfɪmbriiː/
Small, finger-like projections at the end of the fallopian tubes.
Fissure
/ˈfɪʃər/
A long, narrow opening or groove, such as the deep clefts in the brain.
Flaccid
/ˈflæsɪd/
Soft and hanging loosely or limply, especially a muscle lacking tone.
Flexion
/ˈflɛkʃən/
A movement that decreases the angle between two body parts (e.g., bending the elbow).
Flexor
/ˈflɛksər/
A muscle whose contraction bends a limb or other part of the body.
Follicle
/ˈfɒlɪkəl/
A small secretory cavity, sac, or gland, such as those for hair or ova.
Fontanelle
/ˌfɒntəˈnɛl/
A space between the bones of the skull in an infant or fetus, where ossification is not complete.
Foramen
/fəˈreɪmən/
An opening, hole, or passage, especially in a bone (e.g., Foramen Magnum).
Fossa
/ˈfɒsə/
A shallow depression or hollow in a bone.
Fovea
/ˈfoʊviə/
A small pit or depression, notably the fovea centralis in the retina.
Frenulum
/ˈfrɛnjʊləm/
A small fold of mucous membrane that limits the movement of an organ (e.g., under the tongue).
Frontal
/ˈfrʌntəl/
Relating to the forehead or the frontal bone of the skull.
Fundus
/ˈfʌndəs/
The part of a hollow organ (such as the uterus or stomach) farthest from its opening.
Fungiform
/ˈfʌndʒɪfɔːrm/
Mushroom-shaped papillae on the tongue that contain taste buds.
Funiculus
/fjuːˈnɪkjʊləs/
A bundle of nerve fibers, specifically one of the three main columns of the spinal cord.
Fusiform
/ˈfjuːzɪfɔːrm/
Spindle-shaped; tapering at both ends, like certain muscle bellies.