MedTerm Speak

Master the language of medicine

Oblique

oh-BLEEK

/əˈbliːk/

Muscles that are slanted or at an angle, such as the abdominal obliques.

Obturator

OB-tuh-ray-tur

/ˈɒbtjʊreɪtər/

Relating to the large opening in the hip bone (obturator foramen) or the muscles nearby.

Occipital

ok-SIP-ih-tul

/ɒkˈsɪpɪtəl/

Relating to the back of the head or the occipital bone of the skull.

Occipitofrontalis

ok-sip-ih-to-frun-TAY-lis

/ɒkˌsɪpɪtoʊfrʌnˈteɪlɪs/

The muscle which covers parts of the skull, consisting of an occipital belly and a frontal belly.

Ocular

OK-yoo-lur

/ˈɒkjʊlər/

Relating to the eye or the sense of sight.

Oculomotor

ok-yoo-lo-MO-tur

/ˌɒkjʊloʊˈmoʊtər/

The third cranial nerve, which controls most of the eye's movements.

Odontoid

o-DON-toyd

/oʊˈdɒntɔɪd/

Tooth-like; specifically the process of the second cervical vertebra (the dens).

Olecranon

o-LEK-ruh-non

/oʊˈlɛkrənɒn/

The bony projection of the ulna at the elbow.

Olfactory

ol-FAK-tuh-ree

/ɒlˈfæktəri/

Relating to the sense of smell.

Omentum

o-MEN-tum

/oʊˈmɛntəm/

A fold of peritoneum connecting the stomach with other abdominal organs.

Omohyoid

o-mo-HY-oyd

/ˌoʊmoʊˈhaɪɔɪd/

A muscle that depresses the hyoid, connecting the shoulder (omos) to the hyoid bone.

Oocyte

O-uh-syt

/ˈoʊəsaɪt/

A cell in an ovary which may undergo meiotic division to form an ovum.

Oogenesis

o-uh-JEN-ih-sis

/ˌoʊəˈdʒɛnɪsɪs/

The production or development of an ovum.

Ophthalmic

of-THAL-mik

/ɒfˈθælmɪk/

Relating to the eye.

Opponens

uh-PO-nenz

/əˈpoʊnənz/

Muscles that allow for 'opposition' movement, like the thumb touching the pinky.

Optic

OP-tik

/ˈɒptɪk/

Relating to the eye or vision, specifically the second cranial nerve.

Ora Serrata

OR-uh seh-RAY-tuh

/ˈɔːrə sɛˈreɪtə/

The serrated junction between the retina and the ciliary body.

Orbicularis Oculi

or-bik-yoo-LAIR-is OK-yoo-ly

/ɔːrˌbɪkjʊˈlɛərɪs ˈɒkjʊlaɪ/

The ring-like muscle that closes the eyelids.

Orbicularis Oris

or-bik-yoo-LAIR-is OR-is

/ɔːrˌbɪkjʊˈlɛərɪs ˈɔːrɪs/

The muscle complex around the mouth that puckers the lips.

Orbit

OR-bit

/ˈɔːrbɪt/

The bony cavity in the skull that contains the eyeball.

Organ

OR-gun

/ˈɔːrɡən/

A part of an organism that is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function.

Organelle

or-guh-NEL

/ˌɔːrɡəˈnɛl/

Any of a number of organized or specialized structures within a living cell.

Origin

OR-ih-jin

/ˈɒrɪdʒɪn/

The fixed attachment point of a muscle, which does not move during contraction.

Oropharynx

or-o-FAIR-ingks

/ˌɔːroʊˈfærɪŋks/

The part of the pharynx that lies between the soft palate and the hyoid bone.

Os

OSS

/ɒs/

The Latin term for a bone, or an opening/mouth (like the cervical os).

Ossicle

OS-ih-kul

/ˈɒsɪkəl/

A small bone, especially one of the three in the middle ear.

Ossification

os-ih-fih-KAY-shun

/ˌɒsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

The process of bone formation.

Osteoblast

OS-tee-o-blast

/ˈɒstioʊblæst/

A cell that secretes the matrix for bone formation.

Osteoclast

OS-tee-o-klast

/ˈɒstioʊklæst/

A large multinucleate bone cell which absorbs bone tissue during growth and healing.

Osteocyte

OS-tee-o-syt

/ˈɒstioʊsaɪt/

A bone cell, formed when an osteoblast becomes embedded in the matrix it has secreted.

Osteon

OS-tee-on

/ˈɒstiɒn/

The fundamental functional unit of much compact bone.

Otic

O-tik

/ˈoʊtɪk/

Relating to the ear.

Otolith

O-tuh-lith

/ˈoʊtəlɪθ/

Small calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear that help with balance.

Ovary

O-vuh-ree

/ˈoʊvəri/

A female reproductive organ in which ova or eggs are produced.

Ovum

O-vum

/ˈoʊvəm/

A mature female reproductive cell.