| nucha | <zoology> The back or upper part of the neck; the nape. Origin: LL. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| nuchal | <anatomy> Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the back, or nape, of the neck; applied especially to the anterior median plate in the carapace of turtles. Origin: Cf. F. Nucal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| nuchal fascia | <anatomy> The fascia that encloses the posterior muscles of the neck. Synonym: fascia nuchae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nuchal ligament | A sagittal ligamentous band at the back of the neck, formed of thickened supraspinous ligaments; it extends from the external occipital protuberance to the posterior border of the foramen magnum, cranially, to the seventh cervical spinous process, caudally. Synonym: apparatus ligamentosus colli, nuchal ligament. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nuchal plane | <anatomy> The external surface of the squamous part of the occipital bone below the superior nuchal line, giving attachment to the muscles of the back of the neck. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nuchal region | The back of neck, including the suboccipital region. Synonym: regio nuchalis, nuchal region, posterior neck region, regio cervicalis posterior. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nuchal rigidity | <neurology> Resistance to flexion of the neck, seen in individuals with meningitis. (27 Sep 1997) |
| nuchal tubercle | The vertebra in the cervicothoracic region which has the most prominent spinous process (seventh cervical vertebra in 70% of the cases, sixth in 20%, and first thoracic vertebra in 10%). Synonym: nuchal tubercle. (05 Mar 2000) |