| 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) |
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| 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) |
| lesser ring of iris | The narrow inner zone of the iris. Synonym: annulus iridis minor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser sciatic notch | The notch in the posterior border of the ischium below the ischial spine. Synonym: incisura ischiadica minor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser splanchnic nerve | <anatomy, nerve> One of the abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves arising in the thorax from the last two thoracic sympathetic ganglia and passing through the diaphragm to the aorticorenal ganglion; conveys presynaptic sympathetic fibres and visceral afferent fibres. Synonym: nervus splanchnicus minor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Lesser's triangle | The space between the bellies of the digastric muscle and the hypoglossal nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser superficial 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 supraclavicular fossa | A triangular space between the two heads of origin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Synonym: fossa supraclavicularis minor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser trochanter | A pyramidal process projecting from the medial and proximal part of the shaft of the femur at the line of junction of the shaft and the neck; it receives the insertion of the psoas major and iliacus (iliopsoas) muscles. Synonym: trochanter minor, small trochanter, trochantin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser tympanic spine | The posterior edge of the tympanic notch (of Rivinus). Synonym: spina tympanica minor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser vestibular glands | A number of minute mucous glands opening on the surface of the vestibule between the orifices of the vagina and urethra. Synonym: glandulae vestibulares minores. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser wing of sphenoid bone | One of a bilateral pair of triangular, pointed plates extending laterally from the anterolateral body of the sphenoid bone. Forming the posteriormost portion of the floor of the anterior cranial fossa, their sharp posterior edge forms the sphenoidal ridge separating anterior and middle cranial fossae. The medial end of the lesser wing attaches to the body by means of two pedicles, thus forming the optic canal. The wing itself forms the superior margin of the supraorbital fissure. Synonym: ala minor ossis sphenoidalis, ala orbitalis, Ingrassia's apophysis, Ingrassia's wing. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser zygomatic muscle | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, zygomatic bone posterior to zygomaticomaxillary suture; insertion, orbicularis oris of upper lip; action, draws upper lip upward and outward; nerve supply, facial. Synonym: musculus zygomaticus minor, caput zygomaticum quadrati labii superioris, lesser zygomatic muscle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory tubercle | A small apophysis at the posterior part of the base of the transverse process of each of the lumbar vertebrae. Synonym: processus accessorius, accessory tubercle. (05 Mar 2000) |