| dorsal branch | <anatomy, nerve> The smaller, posteriorly-directed major terminal branch (with the ventral primary ramus) of all 31 pairs of mixed spinal nerves, formed at the intervertebral foramen and turning abruptly posteriorly to divide into lateral and medial branches, both of which will supply the deep (true) muscles of the back. The medial branch (rami medialis ) of the dorsal primary ramus also supplies articular branches to the zygopophyseal joints and the periosteum of the vertebral arch. In the neck and upper back, the medial branch continues through the deep and superficial back muscles to supply overlying skin; in the lower back, the lateral branch does this. Nomina Anatomica lists dorsal primary rami as "rami dorsales" for each group of spinal nerves: 1) cervical (nervorum cervicalium ), 2) thoracic (nervorum thoracicorum ), 3) lumbar (nervorum lumbalium ), 4) sacral (nervorum sacralium ), and 5) coccygeal (nervi coccygei ). Synonym: ramus dorsalis nervorum spinalium, ramus dorsalis, rami posteriores nervorum spinalium, dorsal branch, posterior primary division. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| dorsal branch of the lumbar artery | <anatomy, artery> Terminal branch (with ventral branch) of the 4-5 lumbar arteries, distributed to lumbar portion of back, posterior vertebral column, and spinal cord and environs. Synonym: ramus dorsalis arteriae lumbalium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal branch of the posterior intercostal arteries 3-11 | Terminal branch (with ventral branch) of the 3rd through 11th posterior intercostal arteries, distributed to thoracic portion of posterior vertebral column, spinal cord and environs, and back. Synonym: ramus dorsalis arteriarum intercostalium posteriorum III-XI. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal branch of the posterior intercostal veins 4-11 | Major tributary of the 4th through 11th posterior intercostal veins; area drained is the same as that supplied by the dorsal branch of posterior intercostal arteries. Synonym: ramus dorsalis venarum intercostalium posteriorum IV-XI. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal branch of the subcostal artery | <anatomy, artery> Terminal branch (with ventral branch) of subcostal artery, distributed to posterior vertebral column, spinal cord and environs, and back at the T12-L1 vertebral level. Synonym: rami dorsales arteriae subcostalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal branch of the superior intercostal artery | <anatomy, artery> Branches of the 1st and 2nd posterior intercostal arteries which arise as branches of the supreme intercostal artery. The distribution is the same as for the dorsal branches of the other posterior intercostal arteries at the T1-T2 vertebral level. Synonym: rami dorsales arteriae intercostalis supremae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve | <anatomy, nerve> Branch arising from the ulnar nerve proximal to the wrist for distribution to the medial side of the dorsum of the hand and proximal portion of the little finger and medial side of ring finger. Synonym: rami dorsales nervi ulnaris. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal calcaneocuboid ligament | <anatomy> See: bifurcate ligament. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal callosal vein | It originates on the superior surface of the corpus callosum and runs posteriorly to terminate in the great cerebral vein. Synonym: dorsal callosal vein, dorsal vein of corpus callosum, posterior marginal vein, posterior pericallosal vein. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal carpal branch of radial artery | <anatomy, artery> A branch of the radial artery that passes to the back of the wrist to join the dorsal carpal network. Synonym: ramus carpalis dorsalis arteriae radialis, ramus carpeus dorsalis arteriae radialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal carpal branch of ulnar artery | <anatomy, artery> A branch of the ulnar artery that passes to the dorsal side of the carpus to enter the dorsal carpal network. Synonym: ramus carpeus dorsalis arteriae ulnaris, ramus carpalis dorsalis arteriae ulnaris. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal carpal ligament | A strong fibrous band formed as a thickening of the antebrachial deep fascia, stretching obliquely across the back of the wrist, attaching deeply to ridges on the dorsal aspect of the radius, triquetral and pisiform bones, binding down the extensor tendons of the fingers and thumb. Synonym: retinaculum extensorum, dorsal carpal ligament, ligamentum carpi dorsale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal carpal network | A vascular network over the dorsal surface of the carpal joints, formed by anastomoses of branches of the anterior and posterior interosseous, and dorsal carpal branches of the radial and ulnar arteries. Synonym: rete carpi dorsale, rete carpi posterius. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal carpometacarpal ligaments | Fibrous bands that connect the dorsal surfaces of the carpal and metacarpal bones. Synonym: ligamentum carpometacarpalia dorsalia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsal column of spinal cord | The pronounced, dorsolaterally oriented ridge of gray matter in each lateral half of the spinal cord, corresponding to the posterior or dorsal horn appearing in transverse sections of the cord. Synonym: columna posterior, dorsal column of spinal cord, posterior column of spinal cord. (05 Mar 2000) |