| Gerdy's hyoid fossa | A space bounded by the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle, anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid, and posterior belly of the digastric; it contains the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. Synonym: trigonum caroticum, fossa carotica, Gerdy's hyoid fossa, Malgaigne's fossa, Malgaigne's triangle, superior carotid triangle. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| mastoid fossa | A small depression on the mastoid part of the temporal bone, posterior to the suprameatal spine. Synonym: foveola suprameatica, mastoid fossa, fossa mastoidea, supramastoid fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vestibular fossa | The portion of the vestibule of the vagina between the frenulum of the labia minora and the posterior labial commissure of the vulva. Synonym: fossa vestibuli vaginae, fossa navicularis vestibulae vaginae, vestibular fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| glenoid fossa | The hollow in the head of the scapula that receives the head of the humerus to make the shoulder joint. Synonym: mandibular fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| patellar fossa of vitreous | A depression on the anterior surface of the vitreous body in which lies the lens. Synonym: fossa hyaloidea, lenticular fossa, patellar fossa of vitreous. (05 Mar 2000) |
| medial inguinal fossa | A depression on the peritoneal surface of the anterior abdominal wall between the ridges formed by the inferior epigastric artery and the medial umbilical ligament; it corresponds to the position of the superficial inguinal ring and is the site of a direct inguinal hernia. Synonym: fossa inguinalis medialis, fovea inguinalis interna. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cerebellar fossa | The large concave impressions on the inner surface of the occipital bone on either side of the foramen magnum and internal occipital crest, housing the cerebellar hemispheres; a part of the posterior cranial fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retroduodenal fossa | A peritoneal recess occasionally found behind the third part of the duodenum, between it and the aorta. Synonym: recessus retroduodenalis, infraduodenal fossa, retroduodenal fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retromandibular fossa | The depression inferior to the auricle and posterior to the ramus and angle of the mandible. Synonym: fossa retromandibularis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retromolar fossa | A triangular depression in the mandible posterior to the third molar tooth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Merkel's fossa | A groove in the posterolateral wall of the vestibule of the larynx between the corniculate and cuneiform cartilages. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mesentericoparietal fossa | A peritoneal fossa that has been seen in a few cases in which the jejunum has no mesentery but is attached to the posterior parietal peritoneum; the fossa begins at the point where the mesentery ends, and is seen on raising up the knuckle of free intestine. Synonym: Broesike's fossa, fossa parajejunalis, mesentericoparietal fossa, mesentericoparietal recess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rhomboid fossa | The floor of the fourth ventricle of the brain, formed by the ventricular surface of the rhombencephalon. Synonym: fossa rhomboidea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gruber-Landzert fossa | The variable peritoneal recess which lies behind the inferior duodenal fold and along the ascending part of the duodenum. Synonym: recessus duodenalis inferior, Gruber-Landzert fossa, inferior duodenal fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| petrosal fossa | A small and often only faintly marked depression on the inferior surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone, between the jugular fossa and the opening of the carotid canal; here opens the canaliculus tympanicus transmitting the tympanic nerve. Synonym: fossula petrosa, petrosal fossa, receptaculum ganglii petrosi. (05 Mar 2000) |