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1. [TA] One of the grooves or furrows on the surface of the brain, bounding the several convolutions or gyri; a fissure. SEE ALSO: fissure. 2. [NA] Any long narrow groove, furrow, or slight depression. SEE ALSO: groove. 3. A groove or depression in the oral cavity or on the surface of a tooth. [L. a furrow or ditch]
- alveolobuccal s. SYN: alveolobuccal groove.
- alveololabial s. SYN: alveololabial groove.
- alveololingual s. SYN: alveololingual groove.
- s. ampullaris [TA] SYN: ampullary groove.
- ampullary s. SYN: ampullary groove.
- s. angularis SYN: angular incisure.
- anterior intermediate s. a furrow occasionally seen in the adult between the anterior median fissure and the anterior lateral s. of the spinal cord but usually present only in the fetus. It indicates the lateral border of the anterior corticospinal fasciculus. SYN: anterior intermediate groove, s. intermedius anterior.
- anterior interventricular s. [TA] a groove on the anterosuperior surface of the heart, marking the location of the septum between the two ventricles. SYN: s. interventricularis anterior [TA], anterior interventricular groove, crena cordis (1).
- anterior parolfactory s. a fissure marking the anterior border of the parolfactory area. SYN: s. parolfactorius anterior.
- anterolateral s. an indistinct furrow on the ventral surface of the spinal cord and medulla oblongata, on either side marking the line of exit of the anterior nerve roots. SYN: s. anterolateralis [TA], ventrolateral s., anterolateral groove.
- s. anterolateralis [TA] SYN: anterolateral s..
- s. anthelicis transversus SYN: transverse anthelicine groove.
- s. arteriae occipitalis [TA] SYN: occipital groove.
- s. arteriae subclaviae costae primae [TA] SYN: groove of first rib for subclavian artery.
- sulci arteriosi [TA] SYN: arterial grooves, under groove.
- atrioventricular s. SYN: coronary s..
- s. basilaris [TA] SYN: basilar pontine s..
- basilar pontine s. a median groove on the ventral surface of the pons varolii in which lies the basilar artery. SYN: basilar s. [TA], s. basilaris [TA].
- s. bulbopontis [TA] SYN: medullopontine s..
- calcaneal s. [TA] the groove on the upper part of the calcaneus, which with a corresponding groove on the talus forms the sinus tarsi. SYN: s. calcanei [TA], interosseous groove of calcaneus, interosseous groove (1).
- s. calcanei [TA] SYN: calcaneal s..
- calcarine s. [TA] a deep fissure on the medial aspect of the cerebral cortex, extending on an arched line from the isthmus of the fornicate gyrus back to the occipital pole, marking the border between the lingual gyrus below and the cuneus above it. The cortex in the depth of the s. corresponds to the horizontal meridian of the contralateral half of the visual field. SYN: s. calcarinus [TA], calcarine fissure, fissura calcarina, posthippocampal fissure.
- s. calcarinus [TA] SYN: calcarine s..
- callosomarginal s. SYN: cingulate s..
- s. callosomarginalis SYN: cingulate s..
- s. caroticus [TA] SYN: cavernous groove.
- s. carpi [TA] SYN: carpal groove.
- central s. [TA] a double-S-shaped fissure extending obliquely upward and backward on the lateral surface of each cerebral hemisphere at the boundary between frontal and parietal lobes. SYN: s. centralis [TA], fissure of Rolando.
- central s. of insula [TA] a s. traversing the insular cortex and dividing it into an anterior part, the gyri brevi and a posterior part, the gyri longi. SYN: s. centralis insulae [TA].
- s. centralis [TA] SYN: central s..
- cerebral sulci [TA] the grooves between the cerebral gyri or convolutions. SYN: sulci cerebri [TA].
- sulci cerebri [TA] SYN: cerebral sulci.
- chiasmatic s. SYN: prechiasmatic s..
- cingulate s. [TA] a fissure on the mesial surface of the cerebral hemisphere, bounding the upper surface of the cingulate gyrus (callosal convolution); the anterior portion is called the pars subfrontalis; the posterior portion which curves up to the superomedial margin of the hemisphere and borders the paracentral lobule posteriorly is the ramus marginalis. SYN: s. cinguli [TA], callosomarginal fissure, callosomarginal s., s. callosomarginalis, s. of cingulum.
- s. cinguli [TA] SYN: cingulate s..
- circular s. of insula [TA] a semicircular fissure demarcating the insula from the opercula above, below, and behind. SYN: s. circularis insulae [TA], circular s. of Reil, limiting s. of Reil.
- s. circularis insulae [TA] SYN: circular s. of insula.
- collateral s. [TA] a long, deep sagittal fissure on the undersurface of the temporal lobe, marking the border between the fusiform gyrus laterally and the hippocampal and lingual gyri medially; the great depth of the collateral s. results in a bulging of the floor of the occipital and temporal horn of the lateral ventricle, the collateral eminence. SYN: occipitotemporal s. [TA], s. collateralis [TA], s. occipitotemporalis [TA], collateral fissure, fissura collateralis.
- s. collateralis [TA] SYN: collateral s..
- s. coronarius [TA] SYN: coronary s..
- coronary s. [TA] a groove on the outer surface of the heart marking the division between the atria and the ventricles. SYN: s. coronarius [TA], atrioventricular groove, atrioventricular s., auriculoventricular groove, coronary groove.
- s. of corpus callosum [TA] the fissure between the corpus callosum and the cingulate gyrus. SYN: s. corporis callosi [TA], callosal s..
- s. costae [TA] SYN: costal groove.
- s. costae arteriae subclaviae SYN: groove of first rib for subclavian artery.
- costophrenic s. the recess between the ribs and the lateral-most portion of the diaphragm, partially occupied by the most caudal part of the lung; seen on radiographs as the costophrenic angle.
- dorsolateral s. posterolateral s..
- s. ethmoidalis [TA] SYN: ethmoidal groove.
- fimbriodentate s. [TA] a shallow groove between the fimbria and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. SYN: s. fimbriodentatus [TA].
- s. fimbriodentatus [TA] SYN: fimbriodentate s..
- gingival s. [TA] the space between the surface of the tooth and the free gingiva. SYN: s. gingivalis [TA], gingival crevice, gingival groove, gingival space, subgingival space.
- s. gingivalis [TA] SYN: gingival s..
- gingivobuccal s. SYN: alveolobuccal groove.
- gingivolabial s. SYN: alveololabial groove.
- gingivolingual s. SYN: alveololingual groove.
- habenular s. [TA] a small groove located between the habenular trigone and the adjacent dorsal thalamus. SYN: s. habenularis.
- s. habenularis SYN: habenular s..
- hippocampal s. [TA] a shallow groove between the dentate gyrus and the parahippocampal gyrus; the remains of a fissure extending deep into the hippocampus between the Ammon horn and the dentate gyrus which becomes obliterated during fetal development. SYN: s. hippocampalis [TA], dentate fissure, fissura dentata, fissura hippocampi, hippocampal fissure.
- s. hippocampalis [TA] SYN: hippocampal s..
- hypothalamic s. [TA] a groove in the lateral wall of the third ventricle on either side leading from the interventricular foramen to the apertura aqueductus mesencephali; the s.-demarcated boundary between dorsal thalamus and hypothalamus. SYN: s. hypothalamicus [TA], Monro s..
- s. hypothalamicus [TA] SYN: hypothalamic s..
- inferior frontal s. [TA] a sagittal fissure on the lateral convex surface of each frontal lobe of the cerebrum demarcating the middle from the inferior frontal gyrus. SYN: s. frontalis inferior [TA].
- inferior temporal s. [TA] the s. on the basal aspect of the temporal lobe that separates the fusiform gyrus from the inferior temporal gyrus on its lateral side. SYN: s. temporalis inferior [TA], Clevenger fissure.
- s. infraorbitalis [TA] SYN: infraorbital groove.
- s. infrapalpebralis SYN: infrapalpebral s..
- inner spiral s. [TA] a concavity in the floor of the cochlear duct formed by the overhanging vestibular lip. SYN: s. spiralis internus [TA], internal spiral s..
- interparietal s. SYN: intraparietal s..
- intertubercular s. [TA] a furrow running down the shaft of the humerus between the two tubercles, lodging the tendon of the long head of the biceps, and giving attachment in its floor to the latissimus dorsi muscle. SYN: intertubercular groove [TA], s. intertubercularis [TA], bicipital groove.
- s. intertubercularis [TA] SYN: intertubercular s..
- intragracile s. a fissure between the gracilis minor and gracilis posterior lobuli of the cerebellum. SYN: s. intragracilis.
- s. intragracilis SYN: intragracile s..
- intraparietal s. [TA] a horizontal s. extending back from the postcentral s. over some distance, then dividing perpendicularly into two branches so as to form, with the postcentral s., a figure H. It divides the parietal lobe into superior and inferior parietal lobules. SYN: s. intraparietalis [TA], interparietal s., intraparietal s. of Turner, Turner s..
- s. intraparietalis [TA] SYN: intraparietal s..
- labial s. a furrow between the developing lip and gum. SYN: labiodental s., lip s., primary labial groove.
- labiodental s. SYN: labial s..
- s. lacrimalis [TA] SYN: lacrimal groove.
- lateral s. the deepest and most prominent of the cortical sulci, extending from the anterior perforated substance first laterally at the deep incisure between the frontal and temporal lobes, then caudal and slightly dorsal over the lateral aspect of the cerebral hemisphere; the superior temporal gyrus forms its lower bank, the insula its greatly expanded floor, and the frontal and parietal opervula its upper bank. The s. is composed of three portions, a large posterior ramus [TA] (ramus posterior [TA]) that is commonly called the lateral s., a short anterior ramus [TA] (ramus posterior [TA]) located between the pars orbitalis and pars triangularis of the inferior frontal gyrus, and a short ascending ramus [TA] (ramus ascendens [TA]) located between the pars triangularis and pars opercularis. SYN: s. lateralis [TA], fissura cerebri lateralis, lateral cerebral fissure, sylvian fissure, fissure of Sylvius.
- lateral occipital s. one of several variable sulci on the lateral aspect of the occipital lobe of each cerebral hemisphere, bounding the lateral occipital convolutions. SYN: s. occipitalis lateralis.
- s. limitans [TA] SYN: limiting s..
- s. limitans ventriculi quarti [TA] SYN: limiting s. of fourth ventricle.
- limiting s. the medial longitudinal groove on the inner surface of the neural tube separating the alar and basal plates. SYN: s. limitans [TA].
- limiting s. of fourth ventricle [TA] a lateral groove running the whole length of the floor of the rhomboid fossa on either side of the midline, representing the remains of the s. demarcating the alar (dorsal) from the basal (ventral) plate of the embryonic rhombencephalon; position of s. indicates the general separation of motor nuclei of cranial nerves (located medially) from sensory nuclei of cranial nerves (located laterally). SYN: s. limitans ventriculi quarti [TA].
- lip s. SYN: labial s..
- lunate s. a small, inconstant semilunar groove on the cortical convexity near the occipital pole, marking the anterior border of the striate cortex (area 17) and considered homologous with the major s. of the same name that is a more constant feature of the cerebral cortex in monkeys and apes. SYN: lunate fissure [TA], s. lunatus [TA], simian fissure.
- s. lunatus [TA] SYN: lunate s..
- s. malleolaris [TA] SYN: malleolar groove.
- marginal s. [TA] the s. located immediately caudal to the posterior paracentral gyrus : the posterior ascending portion of the cingulate s.; may also be considered the marginal ramus of the cingulate s.. SYN: ramus marginalis [TA], s. marginalis [TA], marginal branch [TA] of cingulate s..
- s. marginalis [TA] SYN: marginal s..
- s. matricis unguis the cutaneous furrow in which the lateral border of the nail is situated. SYN: groove of nail matrix, vallecula unguis.
- median s. of fourth ventricle [TA] the shallow midline groove in the floor of the ventricle. SYN: s. medianus ventriculi quarti [TA].
- median s. of tongue [TA] a slight longitudinal depression running forward on the dorsal surface of the tongue from the foramen cecum dividing the dorsum into right and left halves. SYN: s. medianus linguae [TA], median groove of tongue, median longitudinal raphe of tongue, raphe linguae.
- medullopontine s. [TA] the transverse groove on the ventral aspect of the brainstem that demarcates the medulla from the pons and contains the emerging roots of the 6th, 7th, and 8th cranial nerves. SYN: s. bulbopontis [TA].
- mentolabial s. the indistinct line separating the lower lip from the chin. SYN: mentolabial furrow, s. mentolabialis.
- s. mentolabialis SYN: mentolabial s..
- middle frontal s. a relatively shallow sagittal fissure of the brain dividing the middle frontal convolution into an upper and lower part; this s. is found only in humans and anthropoid apes; at its anterior extremity it bifurcates, the two branches spreading out laterally and constituting the frontomarginal s.. SYN: s. frontalis medius.
- middle temporal s. the s. between the middle temporal gyrus and inferior temporal gyrus. SYN: s. temporalis medius.
- Monro s. SYN: hypothalamic s..
- s. musculi subclavii [TA] SYN: subclavian groove.
- s. mylohyoideus [TA] SYN: mylohyoid groove.
- nasolabial s. [TA] a furrow between the wing of the nose and the lip. SYN: s. nasolabialis [TA], nasolabial groove.
- s. nasolabialis [TA] SYN: nasolabial s..
- nymphocaruncular s. a groove between the labium minor and the border of the remains of the hymen, in which is the opening of the duct of the greater vestibular gland on either side. SYN: nymphohymenal s., s. nymphocaruncularis.
- s. nymphocaruncularis SYN: nymphocaruncular s..
- nymphohymenal s. SYN: nymphocaruncular s..
- s. obturatorius [TA] SYN: obturator groove.
- occipitotemporal s. [TA] SYN: collateral s..
- s. occipitotemporalis [TA] SYN: collateral s..
- oculomotor s. of mesencephalon [TA] a groove in the lateral wall of the interpeduncular fossa of the midbrain from which the rootlets of the oculomotor nerve emerge. SYN: s. nervi oculomotorii [TA], medial s. of crus cerebri, s. medialis cruris cerebri, s. of the oculomotor nerve.
- s. olfactorius [TA] SYN: olfactory s..
- olfactory s. [TA] the sagittal s. on the inferior or orbital surface of each frontal lobe of the cerebrum, demarcating the straight gyrus from the orbital gyri, and covered on the orbital surface by the olfactory bulb and tract. SYN: s. olfactorius [TA], olfactory groove.
- orbital sulci [TA] a number of irregularly disposed, variable sulci dividing the inferior or orbital surface of each frontal lobe of the cerebrum into the orbital gyri. SYN: sulci orbitales [TA].
- sulci orbitales [TA] SYN: orbital sulci.
- outer spiral s. [TA] a concavity in the outer wall of the cochlear duct between the spiral prominence and the spiral organ. SYN: s. spiralis externus [TA], external spiral s..
- sulci palatini [TA] SYN: palatine grooves, under groove.
- s. palatovaginalis [TA] SYN: palatovaginal groove.
- paracentral s. [TA] a s. on the medial surface of the hemisphere, sometimes regarded as a branch of the cingulate s., located between the anterior portions of the paracentral lobule and the medial portions of the superior frontal gyrus. SYN: s. paracentralis [TA].
- s. paracentralis [TA] SYN: paracentral s..
- sulci paracolici [TA] SYN: paracolic gutters, under gutter.
- paraglenoid s. SYN: preauricular groove.
- s. paraglenoidalis SYN: preauricular groove.
- sulci paraolfactorii [TA] SYN: parolfactory sulci.
- parietooccipital s. [TA] a very deep, almost vertically oriented fissure on the medial surface of the cerebral cortex, marking the border between the precuneus portion of the parietal lobe and the cuneus of the occipital lobe; its lower part curves forward and fuses with the anterior extent of the calcarine fissure (s. calcarinus); the great depth of this combined fissure causes a bulge in the medial wall of the occipital horn of the lateral ventricle, the calcar avis. SYN: s. parieto- occipitalis [TA], fissura parietooccipitalis, parietooccipital fissure.
- parolfactory sulci [TA] small sulci found in the parolfactory area, which is located immediately rostral to the lamina terminalis; they frequently consist of anterior and posterior sulci. SEE ALSO: anterior parolfactory s.. SYN: sulci paraolfactorii [TA].
- periconchal s. SYN: fossa antihelica.
- s. for pharyngotympanic tube [TA] a furrow on the inner surface of the posterior border of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, for the cartilaginous auditory tube. SYN: s. tubae auditoriae [TA], groove for auditory tube, pharyngotympanic groove, s. for auditory tube.
- postcentral s. [TA] the s. that demarcates the postcentral gyrus from the superior and inferior parietal lobules. SYN: s. postcentralis [TA].
- s. postcentralis [TA] SYN: postcentral s..
- posterior intermediate s. [TA] a longitudinal furrow between the posterior median and the posterolateral sulci of the spinal cord in the cervical region, marking the gracile fasciculus from the cuneate fasciculus. SYN: s. intermedius posterior [TA], dorsal intermediate s., posterior intermediate groove.
- posterior interventricular s. [TA] a groove on the diaphragmatic surface of the heart, marking the location of the septum between the two ventricles. SYN: s. interventricularis posterior [TA], crena cordis (2), posterior interventricular groove.
- posterior median s. of medulla oblongata [TA] the longitudinal groove marking the posterior midline of the medulla oblongata; continuous below with the posterior median s. of the spinal cord. SYN: s. medianus posterior medullae oblongatae [TA], dorsal median s., posterior median fissure of the medulla oblongata.
- posterior median s. of spinal cord [TA] a shallow furrow in the median line of the posterior surface of the spinal cord. SYN: s. medianus posterior medullae spinalis [TA], posterior median fissure of spinal cord.
- posterior parolfactory s. [TA] a shallow groove on the medial surface of the hemisphere demarcating the subcallosal gyrus or precommissural septum from the parolfactory area. SYN: s. parolfactorius posterior.
- posterolateral s. [TA] a longitudinal furrow on either side of the posterior median s. of the spinal cord marking the line of entrance of the posterior nerve roots. SYN: s. posterolateralis [TA], dorsolateral s., posterolateral groove.
- s. posterolateralis [TA] SYN: posterolateral s..
- preauricular s. SYN: preauricular groove.
- precentral s. [TA] an interrupted fissure anterior to and in general parallel with the central s., marking the anterior border of the precentral gyrus. SYN: s. precentralis [TA], s. verticalis.
- s. precentralis [TA] SYN: precentral s..
- prechiasmatic s. [TA] the groove on the upper surface of the sphenoid bone running transversely between the optic canals bounded anteriorly by the sphenoidal limbus and posteriorly by the tuberculum sellae; forms in relationship to the optic chiasm. SYN: s. prechiasmaticus [TA], chiasmatic groove, chiasmatic s., optic groove.
- s. prechiasmaticus [TA] SYN: prechiasmatic s..
- s. promontorii cavitatis tympanicae [TA] SYN: groove of promontory of labyrinthine wall of tympanic cavity.
- s. of promontory of tympanic cavity SYN: groove of promontory of labyrinthine wall of tympanic cavity.
- s. pterygopalatinus SYN: greater palatine groove.
- s. pulmonalis [TA] SYN: pulmonary groove.
- rhinal s. [TA] the shallow rostral continuation of the collateral s. that delimits the rostral part of the parahippocampal gyrus from the fusiform or lateral occipitotemporal gyrus. One of the oldest sulci of the pallium, it marks the border between the neocortex and the allocortical (olfactory). SYN: s. rhinalis [TA], rhinal fissure.
- s. rhinalis [TA] SYN: rhinal s..
- s. sclerae [TA] a slight groove on the external surface of the eyeball indicating the line of union of the sclera and cornea (corneoscleral junction or limbus of cornea). SYN: scleral s., s. of sclera.
- skin sulci [TA] the numerous grooves of variable depth on the surface of the epidermis. SYN: sulci cutis [TA], skin furrows, skin grooves.
- s. spinosus SYN: stria spinosa.
- subclavian s. SYN: subclavian groove.
- s. subclavianus SYN: subclavian groove.
- subparietal s. [TA] a s. continuing the direction of the cingulate s. from where the marginal part of that fissure bends upward; it forms the upper boundary of the posterior portion of the cingulate gyrus. SYN: s. subparietalis [TA].
- s. subparietalis [TA] SYN: subparietal s..
- superior frontal s. [TA] a sagittal fissure on the superior surface of each frontal lobe of the cerebrum starting from the precentral s.; it forms the lateral boundary of the superior frontal convolution. SYN: s. frontalis superior [TA].
- superior occipital s. one of several small and variable sulci bordering the superior occipital gyri on the upper aspect of the occipital lobe of the cerebrum. SYN: s. occipitalis superior.
- superior temporal s. [TA] the longitudinal s. that separates the superior and middle temporal gyri. SYN: s. temporalis superior [TA], superior temporal fissure.
- supraacetabular s. SYN: supra- acetabular groove.
- s. supraacetabularis [TA] SYN: supra- acetabular groove.
- s. tali [TA] the groove on the inferior surface of the talus, which with a corresponding groove on the calcaneus forms the sinus tarsi. SYN: interosseous groove of talus, interosseous groove (2), talar s..
- sulci temporales transversi SYN: transverse temporal s..
- s. tendinis musculi flexoris hallucis longi [TA] SYN: groove for tendon of flexor hallucis longus.
- s. tendinis musculi peronei longi 1. groove for tendon of fibularis longus. 2. the groove distal to the tuberosity of the cuboid bone.
- s. terminalis cordis [TA] a groove on the surface of the right atrium of the heart, marking the junction of the primitive sinus venosus with the atrium. SYN: s. terminalis atrii dextri [TA].
- s. terminalis [TA] groove demarcating the end of a structure (and usually the beginning of another). SYN: terminal s. [TA].
- terminal s. of tongue [TA] a V-shaped groove, with apex pointing backward, on the surface of the tongue, marking the separation between the anterior (oral or horizontal) and the posterior (pharyngeal or vertical) parts. SYN: s. terminalis linguae [TA].
- transverse occipital s. the posterior, vertical limb of the intraparietal s.. SYN: s. occipitalis transversus [TA].
- transverse temporal s. [TA] the shallow s. that demarcates the transverse temporal gyri on the opercular surface of the superior temporal gyrus. This s. frequently consists of more than a single s., depending on the exact configuration of the transverse temporal gyrus (gyri). SYN: s. temporalis transversus [TA], sulci temporales transversi.
- Turner s. SYN: intraparietal s..
- tympanic s. [TA] the groove on the inner aspect of the tympanic part of the temporal bone in which the tympanic membrane is fixed. SYN: s. tympanicus [TA], tympanic groove.
- s. tympanicus [TA] SYN: tympanic s..
- s. of umbilical vein the s. on the fetal liver occupied by the umbilical vein. SYN: s. venae umbilicalis.
- s. for vena cava [TA] a groove on the posterior surface of the liver between the caudate lobe and the right lobe which gives passage to the inferior vena cava. SYN: s. venae cavae [TA], fossa venae cavae, groove for inferior venae cava.
- s. venae subclaviae [TA] SYN: groove for subclavian vein.
- sulci venosi [TA] SYN: venous grooves, under groove.
- ventrolateral s. anterolateral s..
- s. verticalis SYN: precentral s..
- vomeral s. SYN: vomerine groove.
- s. vomeris [TA] SYN: vomerine groove.
- s. vomerovaginalis [TA] SYN: vomerovaginal groove.
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sul·cus 'səl-kəs n, pl sul·ci -.kī, -.sī FURROW, GROOVE esp a shallow furrow on the surface of the brain separating adjacent convolutions compare FISSURE (1c)
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n. (pl. sulci)
1. one of the many clefts or infoldings of the surface of the brain. The raised outfolding on each side of a sulcus is termed a gyrus.
2. any of the infoldings of soft tissue in the mouth, for example between the cheek and the alveolus.
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sul·cus (sulґkəs) gen. and pl. sulґci [L.] 1. [TA] anatomic terminology for a long groove or furrow, especially one of the cerebral sulci. 2. a linear depression or valley in the occlusal surface of a tooth, having sloping sides that meet at an angle.Descriptions are given on TA terms, and include anglicized names of specific sulci.
Medical dictionary. 2011.