| sigmoid fossa | A broad groove in the posterior cranial fossa, first situated on the lateral portion of the occipital bone, then curving around the jugular process on to the mastoid portion of the temporal bone, and finally turning sharply on the posterior inferior angle of the parietal bone and becoming continuous with the transverse groove; it lodges the transverse sinus. Synonym: sulcus sinus sigmoidei, sigmoid fossa, sigmoid groove, sigmoid sulcus. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| hypophysial fossa | Fossa of the sphenoid bone housing the pituitary gland. See: sella turcica. Synonym: fossa hypophysialis, pituitary fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sphenomaxillary fossa | Sphenomaxillary fossa, a small pyramidal space, housing the pterygopalatine ganglion, between the pterygoid process, the maxilla, and the palatine bone. Synonym: fossa pterygopalatina, Bichat's fossa, pterygomaxillary fossa, sphenomaxillary fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| navicular fossa of urethra | The terminal dilated portion of the urethra in the glans penis. Synonym: fossa navicularis urethrae, fossa terminalis urethrae, Morgagni's fossa, Morgagni's fovea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| subarcuate fossa | An irregular depression on the posterior surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone just below its crest and above and lateral to the internal acoustic meatus. In the foetus, the flocculus of the cerebellum rests here; in the adult, a small vein enters the bone here. Synonym: fossa subarcuata, floccular fossa, hiatus subarcuatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| subcaecal fossa | An inconstant depression in the peritoneum extending posterior to the caecum. Synonym: Treitz's fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| subinguinal fossa | The depression on the anterior surface of the thigh beneath the groin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sublingual fossa | A shallow depression on either side of the mental spine, on the inner surface of the body of the mandible, superior to the mylohyoid line, lodging the sublingual gland. Synonym: fovea sublingualis, sublingual pit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| submandibular fossa | The depression on the medial surface of the body of the mandible inferior to the mylohyoid line in which the submandibular gland is lodged. Synonym: fovea submandibularis, fossa submandibularis, fovea submaxillaris, submaxillary fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| submaxillary fossa | The depression on the medial surface of the body of the mandible inferior to the mylohyoid line in which the submandibular gland is lodged. Synonym: fovea submandibularis, fossa submandibularis, fovea submaxillaris, submaxillary fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| subscapular fossa | The concave ventral aspect of the body of the scapula giving origin to the subscapularis muscle. Synonym: fossa subscapularis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| superior duodenal fossa | A peritoneal recess extending upward behind the superior duodenal fold. Synonym: recessus duodenalis superior, duodenojejunal fossa, duodenojejunal recess, Jonnesco's fossa, superior duodenal fossa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| supramastoid 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) |
| supraspinous fossa | The hollow on the dorsal aspect of the scapula above the spine, lodging the supraspinatus muscle. Synonym: fossa supraspinata. (05 Mar 2000) |
| supratonsillar fossa | The interval between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches above the tonsil, most obvious after the tonsil has regressed in the adult. Synonym: fossa supratonsillaris, supratonsillar recess, Tourtual's sinus. (05 Mar 2000) |