1. In humans, a term applied or applicable to several anatomic structures forming a projecting central ridge. 2. That portion of the sternum in a bird, bat, or mole that serves as the origin of the pectoral muscles; it is not found in flightless birds and most mammals. [L. the keel of a boat]
- c. of trachea [TA] the ridge separating the openings of the right and left main bronchi at their junction with the trachea. SYN: c. tracheae [TA], tracheal c..
- urethral c. of vagina the ridge formed by the lower part of the anterior column of the vaginal rugae in relation with the urethra, which parallels the vagina indenting the wall here. SYN: c. urethralis vaginae, c. vaginae.
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ca·ri·na kə-'rī-nə, -'rē- n, pl carinas or ca·ri·nae -'rī-.nē, -'rē-.nī any of various keel-shaped anatomical structures, ridges, or processes: as
a) a ridge on the lower surface of the fornix of the brain
b) the ventral distal part of the vagina
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n.
a keel-like structure, such as the keel-shaped cartilage at the bifurcation of the trachea into the two main bronchi.
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ca·ri·na (kə-riґnə) pl. cariґnae [L. “keelâ€] a ridge or ridgelike structure.Medical dictionary. 2011.