P 
PANCREAS:
The pancreas is a combined 'endocrine' and 'exocrine' solid organ. The endocrine function includes the secretion of insulin that regulate the blood sugar levels.
Pancreatic exocrine secretions are basic (pH > 7.0) and are secreted into the duodenum to neutralize the acid from the gastric contents.
The exocrine secretions also include digestive enzymes.
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PANCREATIC DUCT:
The main excretory duct of the pancreas that flows into the common bile duct. Pancreatic secretions are basic and neutralize the acid from the gastric contents.
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PANCREATICODUODENAL BRANCHES:
The branches of the SMA (superior mesenteric artery) that supply the pancreas and duodenum.
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PARAAORTIC LYMPH NODES:
The abdominal lymphnodes that are adjacent to the aorta.
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PARAILIAC LYMPH NODES:
The lymphnodes that are adjacent to the iliac arteries.
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PARATRACHEAL STRIPE:
The soft-tissue line produced by air inside the trachea and air in the lung outlining the wall of the trachea. Seen on the frontal (PA or AP) chest film, it is thin (usually 2-3 mm, always < 5mm).
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Chest Review
PARIETAL LOBE:
The upper central portion of the cerebral hemisphere, posterior to the central sulcus, and anterior to the parietooccipital notch (medial hemisphere).
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PATELLA:
The roughly triangular sesamoid bone located in front of the knee, within the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle, a major extensor of the lower leg.
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PECTORALIS MAJOR:
Muscle which contributes to the adduction, flexion, and medial rotation of the arm. It originates at the clavicle, sternum, six upper ribs, and the aponeurosis of obliquus externus abdominus, and inserts into the crest of intertubercular groove of the humerus. The major muscle of the upper chest wall.
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PECTORALIS MINOR:
Muscle which originates at the third, fourth and fifth ribs, and inserts into the coracoid process of the scapula. It contributes to drawing the shoulder forward and downward.
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PEDICLE:
The short tubular bone process of the vertebral arch that forms the connection between the lamina and vertebral body (centrum).
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PELVIC DIAPHRAGM:
The floor of the pelvis formed by the coccygei and levatores ani muscles and their fascia. The pelvic diaphgram is fenestrated (holes) for the anus and vagina.
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PELVIS:
A group of bones that join the lower extremity to the spine: sacrum, ilium, ischium, pubis.
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PERITONEAL CAVITY:
The thin space between the parietal and the visceral peritoneum, normally containing a small amount of serous fluid.
PERONEAL ARTERY:
(Fibular Artery)Originates from the posterior tibial artery and branches into the superficial epigastric, superficial circumflex iliac, external pudendal, deep femoral, and descending geniculate arteries.
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PENIS:
The male sexual organ, suspended from the pubic symphysis, supporting the urethra.
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PERPENDICULAR PLATE OF ETHMOID:
The thin bony plate that projects off the inferior surface of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone that helps form the nasal septum.
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PETROUS PYRAMID:
A pyramid of dense bone within the temporal bone, located at the base of the cranium, and housing the hearing and vestibular sensory structures.
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PETROUS RIDGE:
The lateral division between the middle and posterior cranial fossae, oriented at about 45 degrees between sagittal and coronal in the axial plane.
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PHARYNGEAL RECESS:
A lateral extension in the wall of the nasopharynx that is situated cranial and dorsal to the pharyngeal orifice of the auditory (Eustachian) tube.
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PHALANGES:
The small tubular bones of the fingers and toes.
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PHYSIS (GROWTH PLATE):
The portion of long bones concerned with growth in length.
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PIRIFORM SINUS:
Fossa in the wall of the laryngeal pharynx that is lateral to the arytenoid cartilage and medial to the thyroid cartilage.
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PITUITARY:
An endocrine organ located at the base of the skull in the sella turcica ("turkish saddle"), and connected to the hypothalamus by a thin stalk.
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Pituitary Adenoma
Pituitary Adenoma
POPLITEAL ARTERY:
A continuation of the femoral artery that branches into the lateral and medial superior genicular, middle genicular, sural, lateral and medial inferior genicular, anterior and posterior tibial, genicular articular, and the patellar rete arteries.
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POPLITEAL BURSA:
The extension of the sheath of the synovial tendon of the popliteus muscle into the popliteal space.
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POPLITEAL VEIN:
The vein that parallels the path of the popliteal artery, originating at the junction of the venae comitantes of the anterior and posterior tibial arteries and continuing into the femoral vein at the level of the adductor hiatus.
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PONS (BRAINSTEM):
Portion of the central nervous system between the medulla oblongata and the mesencephalon, consisting of the pars dorsalis and pars ventralis. The roof of the pons (the "tegmentum") forms the ventral/anterior floor of the fourth ventricle. In a sagittal view, the pons looks like the "pot-belly" of an overweight man.
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PORTAL VEIN:
Vein originating from the junction of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins, and divides into smaller branches throughout the liver.
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POSTERIOR CLINOID:
Two tubercles located on the superior sides of the dorsum sellae of the sphenoid bone, that are part of the attachment for the tentorium of the cerebellum.
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POSTERIOR RIB:
Portion of the rib located on the dorsal side of the body.
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POSTERIOR TIBIAL ARTERY:
Artery originating from the popliteal artery and branching into the fibular circumflex branch, peroneal, medial plantar, and lateral plantar arteries.
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PRE-EPIGLOTTIC RECESS:
The space between the posterior border of the tongue (at its root) and the anterior margin of the epiglottis.
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PRESACRAL SPACE:
The retro- and extra- peritoneal soft-tissues that are anterior to the sacrum.
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PROFUNDA FEMORIS ARTERY:
Atery which origintes from the femoral artery, and branches into the medial and later circumflex arteries of the thigh and perforating arteries.
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PRONE:
Having the front or ventral surface downward; lying facedown.
PROSTATE:
Gland surrounding the neck of the bladder and urethra in males. Prostatic secretions are combined with spermatocytes to form semen, and provide nourishment for the spermatozoa.
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PROSTATIC URETHRA:
Portion of the urethra that passes through the prostate.
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PSOAS MUSCLE:
Originates at the lumbar vertebrae and fascia and inserts into the lesser trochanter of femur. It contributes to the flexion of the trunk and the flexion and medial rotation of the thigh.
NOTE: Pork tenderloin and filet mignon are psoas muscles.
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PUBIC SYMPHYSIS:
The joining of the pubic bones, in the medial plane, by thick fibrocartilage.
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PULMONARY ARTERIES AND TRUNK:
The large vessel which originates from the conus arteriosus of the right ventricle (pulmonary trunk). It divides into the right and left pulmonary ateries. The pulmonary arteries deliver deoxygenated blood to the lungs for gas exchange.
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PULMONARY VEINS:
The four veins (right/left superior and inferior) that return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
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PYLORIC VALVE:
Fold of mucous membrane located at the pyloric orifice of the stomach.
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Bug Report
Portions © 1997, 2002 J.G. Smirniotopoulos, M.D. and others.