POSTAXIAL Meaning and
Definition
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Postaxial is an adjective derived from the Latin term "postaxialis," which literally means "after the axis." In various fields such as anatomy, biology, and embryology, postaxial refers to a specific position or location that is situated after or towards the outer side of a central structure, axis, or main axis. The term is used to describe the relative arrangement of different body parts, organs, or structures in relation to a central point of reference.
In anatomy, specifically in reference to the upper and lower limbs, postaxial generally refers to the side that is located on the outer side or farthest from the midline. For instance, when describing the arrangement of fingers or toes, postaxial refers to the outermost digit, which is commonly referred to as the pinky finger or the little toe.
In embryology, postaxial relates to the direction of development along the central axis of a developing organism. It describes the development of certain body parts or structures that occur later and farther from the main axis. An example of this would be the development of limbs, where the postaxial region refers to the later-developing parts, such as the hands and feet, which appear after the axial or central parts, such as the shoulder and hip regions.
Overall, the term postaxial provides a clear indication of the relative position or arrangement of structures in relation to a central axis or midline, serving as a helpful descriptor in various scientific and medical contexts.
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Posterior to the axis of the body or any limb, the latter being in the anatomical position.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for POSTAXIAL
- oostaxial
- lostaxial
- -ostaxial
- 0ostaxial
- pistaxial
- pkstaxial
- plstaxial
- ppstaxial
- p0staxial
- p9staxial
- poataxial
- poztaxial
- poxtaxial
- podtaxial
- poetaxial
- powtaxial
- posraxial
- posfaxial
- posgaxial
- posyaxial
Etymology of POSTAXIAL
The word "postaxial" is derived from the combination of two Latin roots: "post", meaning "after" or "behind", and "axia", meaning "axis" or "middle". The suffix "al" is added to indicate "related to" or "pertaining to". Therefore, "postaxial" can be understood as "relating to what is after or behind the axis". This term is often used in the context of anatomy, particularly in relation to the positioning of body parts along the extremities, such as fingers and toes, with the postaxial side referring to the side farthest from the body's midline.
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