| lesser cul-de-sac | The initial portion of the pyloric part of the stomach, which may temporarily become partially or completely shut off from the remainder of the stomach during digestion by peristaltic contraction of the prepyloric "sphincter"; it is demarcated, sometimes, from the second part of the pyloric part of the stomach (pyloric canal) by a slight groove. Synonym: antrum pyloricum, antrum, lesser cul-de-sac. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| lesser curvature of stomach | The right border of the stomach to which the lesser omentum is attached. Synonym: curvatura ventriculi minor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser horn of hyoid bone | The shorter and more medial of the two processes on either side of the hyoid bone. Synonym: cornu minus ossis hyoidei, styloid cornu. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser internal cutaneous nerve | <anatomy, nerve> Arises from the medial cord of the brachial plexus, unites in the axilla with the lateral cutaneous branch of the second intercostal nerve, and supplies the skin of the medial side of the arm. Synonym: nervus cutaneus brachii medialis, lesser internal cutaneous nerve, medial cutaneous nerve of arm, Wrisberg's nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser multangular bone | A bone in the distal row of the carpus; it articulates with the second metacarpal, trapezium, capitate, and scaphoid. Synonym: os trapezoideum, lesser multangular bone, os multangulum minus, trapezoid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser occipital nerve | <anatomy, nerve> Arises from the ventral primary rami of the second and third cervical nerves; supplies the skin of the posterior surface of the auricle and the adjacent portion of the scalp. Posterior to the auricle. Synonym: nervus occipitalis minor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser palatine artery | <anatomy, artery> One of several posterior branches of the descending palatine in the greater palatine canal, distributed to the soft palate and tonsil. Synonym: arteria palatina minor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser palatine foramina | Openings on the hard palate of palatine canals passing vertically through the tuberosity of the palatine bone and transmitting the smaller palatine nerves and vessels. Synonym: foramina palatina minora, posterior palatine foramina. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser palatine nerves | Usually two, these nerves emerge through the lesser palatine foramina and supply the mucosa and glands of the soft palate and uvula; they are branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion and contain postsynaptic parasympathetic and sensory fibres of the maxillary nerve. Synonym: nervi palatini minores. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser pancreas | A portion of the head of the pancreas that hooks around posterior to the superior mesenteric vessels, sometimes into the "nutcracker" formed by the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta. Synonym: processus uncinatus pancreatis, lesser pancreas, pancreas minus, small pancreas, uncinate pancreas, unciform pancreas, Willis' pancreas, Winslow's pancreas. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser pelvis | The cavity of the pelvis below the brim or superior aperture. Synonym: pelvis minor, pelvis vera, small pelvis, true pelvis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser peritoneal cavity | <anatomy> An isolated portion of the peritoneal cavity lying dorsal to the stomach and extending craniad to the liver and diaphragm and caudad into the greater omentum; it opens into the general peritoneal cavity at the epiploic foramen. Synonym: bursa omentalis, lesser peritoneal cavity, lesser peritoneal sac, omental sac. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser peritoneal sac | <anatomy> An isolated portion of the peritoneal cavity lying dorsal to the stomach and extending craniad to the liver and diaphragm and caudad into the greater omentum; it opens into the general peritoneal cavity at the epiploic foramen. Synonym: bursa omentalis, lesser peritoneal cavity, lesser peritoneal sac, omental sac. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser petrosal nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The parasympathetic root of the otic ganglion, derived from the tympanic plexus; it leaves the tympanic cavity through the canal for the lesser petrosal nerve and passes within the cranium to the sphenopetrosal fissure, or to the foramen ovale, or to the petrosal foramen through which it descends to reach the otic ganglion; conveys presynaptic parasympathetic fibres from the glossopharyngeal nerve concerned with secretomotor innervation of the perotid gland. Synonym: nervus petrosus minor, lesser petrosal nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser rhomboid muscle | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, spinous processes of sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae; insertion, medial margin of scapula above spine; action, draws scapula toward vertebral column and slightly upward; nerve supply, dorsal nerve of scapula. Synonym: musculus rhomboideus minor, lesser rhomboid muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |