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OBLIQUE ORBITAL LINE: The radiographic shadow of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, projected through the orbit. image

OBLIQUE VIEW: A view or perspective that is rotated off axis from the three cardinal imaging planes:Sagittal - Coronal - Axial

OBTURATOR EXTERNUS MUSCLE: Muscle which originates at the pubis, ischium, and the superficial surface of the obturator membrane, and inserts into the trochanteric fossa of the femur. It contributes to the lateral (external) rotation of the thigh. image

OBTURATOR FORAMEN: The opening between the os pubis and the ischium. image

OBTURATOR INTERNUS MUSCLE: Muscle which originates at the pelvic surface of the hip bone, the margin of the obturator foramen, the ramus of ischium, the inferior ramus of pubis, and the internal surface of the obturator membrane, and inserts into the greater trochanter of the femur. It contributes to lateral rotation of the thigh. image

OCCIPITAL ARTERY: Originates from the external carotid and branches into the auricular, meningeal, mastoid, descending occipital, and sternocleidomastoid rami arteries. image

OCCIPITAL BONE: The bone situated at the inferior and posterior portion of the cranium, articulates with the two parietal bones (at the lambdoid suture) and the temporal bones as well as the sphenoid bone and the atlas (C1). image image

OCCIPITAL LOBE: The cerebral lobe from the posterior pole to the parietooccipital fissure medially and continuous with the parietal lobe laterally. The occipital lobe is immediately above the tentorium, and is supplied by the posterior cerebral artery. image

ODONTOID PROCESS (DENS) (C1): The "tooth-like" projection from the superior surface of the axis, which ascends to articulate with the atlas, allowing the head to rotate on the cervical spine. image

OLECRANON PROCESS: The bony projection of the distal ulna at the elbow, which helps form the trochlear notch. On extension of the arm, the olecranon "hides" in the olecranon fossa of the distal humerus. image

OPACIFIED: Made to be opaque to X-ray irradiation, due to the introduction of contrast material - as in a barium study (Upper GI, Barium Enema), arteriogram, myelogram, etc. image image image image

OPHTHALMIC ARTERY: Originates from the internal carotid and branches into the lacrimal, supraorbital, central artery of the retina, ciliary, posterior and anterior ethmoid, palpebral, supratrochlear, and dorsal nasal arteries. image

OPTIC NERVE: The second cranial nerve, responsible for the special sensation of sight. This is not really a "nerve", but is actually a post-synaptic white-matter tract that connects the retinal ganglion cells to the occipital (visual) cortex, via the chiasm, lateral geniculate body, and the optic radiations. image

ORAL CAVITY: Cavity of the mouth including the inside of the cheek, palate, oral mucosa, teeth, tongue, and glands that open into the cavity itself. image

OROPHARYNX: The portion of the pharynx below the soft palate and above the upper edge of the epiglottis. image

OSTIA: (ostium pl.) The opening of a tubular organ or between two cavities. image

OUTER TABLE OF SKULL: The outer layer of compact bone, part of the flat bones of the skull. image




Bug Report
Portions © 1997, 2002 J.G. Smirniotopoulos, M.D. and others.