acetabulum n., abbrev. ac the socket on the hip into which the head of the femur fits
amphicoelous adj. describes vertebrae in which the front and back of the centrum are concave. A feature of dinosaur vertebrae that were not supposed to move very much relative to one another, such as posterior dorsals
amphiplatyan adj. describes vertebrae in which the front and back of the centrum are flat.
analogy n. a similar character state present in two or more species of organisms that is derived from different characters in their common ancestor. The opposable digits of Pandas and humans are analogous as the Panda’s digit is formed from bones in the wrist while the human’s is formed from the first digit –analogous adj.
angular bone n., abbrev. mandible bone
anterior adj. forward of; closer to or in the direction of the skull, specifically the tip of the “snout.” For example, the arms are anterior to the legs – cranial syn.
antorbital fenestra n., abbrev. aof fenestration in front of the orbit
appendicular skeleton n. the forelimbs, shoulders, hindlimbs and hip bones
arctometatarsalian adj. describes the condition where the third metatarsal is pinched or compressed between the second and fourth metatarsals. This condition is found in tyrannosaurids, ornithomimids, troodontids, elmisaurids/caenagnathids, Avimimus, Mononykus and their close relatives
astragalocalcaneum n. bone formed by the fusion of the of the anklebones astragalus and calcaneum. This feature was developed convergently in birds and ceratosaurs
axial skeleton n. the spine, including tail, and ribs
barite n. (BaSO4) a common, white, fairly heavy mineral the main ore of barium, often found in the dinosaur bones of the Isle of Wight
basicranium n. the underside of the skull not including the palate; the base of the braincase and the back of the throat. This region is made up of irregularly shaped bones whose names end in “sphenoid” and which are generally fused together into a solid unit
bifurcate adj. Dividing into two
bipedal adj. Walks on two legs
brevis shelf n. a bony recess on the underside of the posterior part of the ilium, to which large tail muscles are attached
calcite n. (CaCO3) very common mineral, usually white, found as infilling in fossil bones
carpal adj., abbrev. cl describes a bone of the carpus (carpals are sometimes called “wrist bones”)
carpometacarpus n. in some animals, the section of the forefoot formed by the fusion of the bones of the carpus and metacarpus
carpus n., abbrev. CS the section of the forefoot between the metacarpus and the wrist joint
caudal adj. behind; of, or closer to or in the direction of, the tail. For example, the vertebrae of the tail are called caudal vertebrae, and the legs are caudal to the arms –posterior syn.
centrum n., pl. centra, abbrev. cent the large, round area of a vertebra
cervical adj. of the neck. For example, the vertebrae of the neck are called cervical vertebrae
chevron n. a V-shaped bone attached to the ventral surface of caudal vertebrae at the top of the V, and articulate where adjacent vertebrae join. Multiple chevrons are located along the length of the caudal series. sometimes called haemal arches.
choana n., pl. chonae the opening between the nasal cavity and the pharynx
clavicle n. collar bone, in dinosaurs may be in contact with the anterior edges of the scapulae, coracoids and sterna.
coracoid n., abbrev. co semicircular bone attached to the front of the scapula
cranial adj. forward of; of, or closer to or in the direction of, the skull. For example, the arms are cranial to the legs –anterior syn.
DCD n., abbrev. Distal Carina Denticle count per 1mm
deltopectoral crest n. ridge of crest to which upper arm muscles attach, particularly well developed in flying and digging vertebrates
dentary bone n., abbrev. d bone in the mandible (see figures 3 and 4)
diapophysis n. a vertebral process to which the tubercule of the rib articulates- usualy situated on the centrum in cervical and caudal vertebrae, and on the neural arch in dorsal vertebrae. Is always dorsal to the parapophysis
dinoturbation n. churning of the ground by dinosaurs – not an accurate term
distal adj. describes a feature anatomically located farther away from, or in the direction away from, the central part of the body or point of attachment or origin. Usually used in the description of limb bones. For example, the ankle is distal of the knee
dorsal adj. describes a feature anatomically located on, closer to, or in the direction of the back. For example, the scapula is dorsal of the manus
DSDI n., abbrev.Denticle-Size Difference Index. MCD:DCD
epipophysis n. a posterodorsally projecting process on the crevical postzypapophysis of dinosaurs, especially well developed in theropods
femur n. thigh bone
fenestra n., pl. fenestrae an opening, such as a hole –fenestration n.
foramen n., pl. foramina an opening, such as a hole, generally smaller than a fenestra
frontal bone n., abbrev. fr skull bone
furcula n. pl. furculae the V-shaped bone in certain theropod groups, including birds, formed by the fusion of the clavicles at the sternum. Also called the “wishbone”
gastralia n. abdominal, or belly, ribs, generally not attached to the spine or thoracic ribs (see figure 13, in red)
gastrolith n. stone swallowed by an organism for either assistance in digestion or ballast, especially in aquatic air-breathing vertebrates
glenoid adj. describes the pocket formed by the scapula and coracoid into which the forearm inserts
hallux n. the first, or innermost, digit of the pes. This is the “big toe” in humans and the backward pointing toe in birds and most theropods
homology n. a similar character state present in two or more species of organisms that is derived from a single character in their common ancestor. The opposable digits in humans and monkeys are homologies as the digits in both animals are formed from digit I –homologous adj.
humerus n., abbrev. h the upper forearm or foreleg bone
hyposphene n., abbrev. hypo joint on the arch of a vertebra
ilium n., abbrev. il top hip bone to which the sacral vertebrae attach
inferior temporal fenestra n., abbrev. itf lower temporal fenestra in diapsids
integument n. the skin and the structures associated with it, including nails, claws, hooves, scales and feathers
ischium n., abbrev. is rear hip bone
labial n. in the lip region, regardless of the organism possessing lips
lacrimal bone n., abbrev. skull bone
lateral adj. in the direction away from, or farther from, a midline bisecting the animal. For example, the hindleg is lateral of the pelvis
mandible n. all the bones of the lower jaw, collectively
mandibular fenestra n., abbrev. mdf lower jaw fenestration
manus n. the forefoot or hand
maxillary bone n., abbrev. mx one of the upper jaw bones
medial adj. in the direction of, or closer to, a midline bisecting the animal. For example, the pelvis is medial of the hindleg
metacarpal n., abbrev. mc describes a bone of the metacarpus
metacarpus n., abbrev. MC the section of the forefoot between the phalanges and the carpus; in humans, the long bones of the hand
metatarsal adj. abbrev. mt describes a bone of the metatarsus
metatarsus n., abbrev. MT the section of the hindfoot between the phalanges and the tarsus; in humans, the long bones of the foot
MCD n., abbrev. Mesial Carina Denticle count per 1mm
naris n. in palaeontology, the external opening of the nasal cavity; in other disciplines, the soft-tissue structure around the external opening of the nasal cavity (i.e. in humans, the nostril)
nasal bone n., abbrev. na skull bone
neural arch n., abbrev. na the opening in a vertebra through which the spinal cord passes
neural spine n., abbrev. sp the large “spike” of bone that rises above the top of a vertebra to which the muscles and tendons for raising the neck attach
obturator process adj., abbrev. obp describes the flange of bone connecting the ischium to the pubis in Predentatans. Thyreophoranss (armored dinosaurs) lacked this prong
opisthocoelous adj. describes vertebrae in which the front of the centrum is convex and the rear of the centrum is concave — so that the front of the vertebra fits into the next vertebra forward like a ball-and-socket joint
opisthopubic adj. describes a condition where the pubis bones point backward, as in maniraptors and predentatans
orbit n., abbrev. o eye socket
osteoderm n. any bone imbedded in the skin. Osteoderms include the scutes of crocodiles, the keeled scutes, spines, and tail-club bones of ankylosaurs, and the plates, spines, and gular ossicles of stegosaurs. Their function is usually for protection and display
palpebral n. bones located in the upper half of the orbit, sometimes connected to the prefrontals or frontals
parapophysis n. a vertebral proces to which the head of the rib articulates, usually situated ventrally on the centrum in anterior cervical vertebrae, but is dorsal in posterior cervical and dorsal vetebrae, is always ventral to the diapophysis
parietal bone n., abbrev. par skull bone
pes n., pl. pedes the hind-foot
phalanx n., pl. phalanges, abbrev. phx a bone in a digit of a foot; in humans, a bone in a finger or toe
pollex n. the first, or innermost, digit of the manus (labeled I in figure 6). This is the “thumb” in humans
postcranial skeleton n. all of the skeleton except the skull
posterior adj. behind; closer to or in the direction of the rear or tail. For example, the legs are posterior to the arms –caudal syn.
postorbital bone n., abbrev. po skull bone
postzygapophysis n. posteriorly projecting process located on the neural arch of a vertebra with a facet for articulation with the next prezygapophysis.
predentary bone n., abbrev. pd mandible bone, unique to Predentatans among the Dinosauria, just forward of the dentary bone in the lower jaw
prefrontal bone n., abbrev. prf skull bone
premaxillary bone n., abbrev. pmx skull bone just forward of the maxillary in the upper jaw
prepubic process adj., abbrev. prp describes the extension of the pubis forward from the hip socket in later Predentatans
prezygapophysis n. anteriorly projecting process located on the neural arch of a vertebra with a dorsal facet for articulation with the preceding postzygapophysis.
procoelous adj. describes vertebrae in which the front of the centrum is concave and the rear of the centrum is convex — so that the rear of the vertebra fits into the next vertebra behind like a ball-and-socket joint
proximal adj. describes a feature anatomically located closer to, or in the direction of, the central part of the body or point of attachment or origin. Usually used in the description of limb bones. For example, the knee is proximal of the ankle
pubis n., abbrev. pu forward hip bone, reduced to a splint in some Predentatans
quadrate bone n., abbrev. q skull bone
quadrate foramen n. a hole in the quadrate allowing the passage of a nerve of blood vessel
quadratojugal bone n., abbrev. qj skull bone
Radius n. abbrev. ra the innermost bone of the foreleg/forearm
retroarticular process n. a small projection on the articular bone forming part of the jaw joint system
rostral bone n., abbrev. r upper jaw bone on ceratopians, in front of the premaxillary bone, that forms the upper part of the beak
sacrum n., the part of the backbone that attaches the pelvis to the spine, usually formed by the fusion of two or more vertebrae –sacral adj.
scapula n., abbrev. sc the shoulder blade
scapulocoracoid n. bone formed by the fusion of the scapula and coracoid
sclerotic plate n., abbrev. scl bone on the eyeball that provides a strong attachment point for muscles. Typical of animals that rely heavily on vision
sclerotic ring n. ring of sclerotic plates
scutes n. plates or large scales set into or onto the skin
semilunate adj. half moon shaped
splenial bone n., abbrev. spl mandible bone
squamosal bone n., abbrev. sq skull bone
sternal plate n. one of the two halves of the sternum, or chest. These bones are usually imbedded in cartilage and are sometimes poorly ossified. In dinosaurs, they generally do not articulate directly with the shoulder girdle (at the coracoids) but “float free” in the chest cartilage. They serve to anchor the tips of the thoracic ribs and the front of the abdominal ribcage, and they act as braces and spacers for the lower shoulder bones (coracoids). In flying birds, the sternal plates are fused solidly together into a relatively huge, keeled breastbone that serves to anchor the pectoral muscles that work the wings
superior temporal fenestra n., abbrev. stf upper temporal fenestra in diapsids
surangular bone n., abbrev. sa mandible bone
tarsal adj., abbrev. tl describes a bone of the tarsus (tarsals are sometimes called “ankle bones”)
tarsometatarsus n. in some animals, the section of the hindfoot formed by the fusion of the bones of the tarsus and metatarsus
tarsus n., abbrev. TS the section of the hindfoot between the metatarsus and the ankle joint
temporal fenestra n. opening in the skull in the temple area. Many vertebrates are classified by how many temporal fenestrae they have
tibiotarsus n. in birds and some dinosaurs, the hind limb bone formed by the fusion of the bottom of the tibia, or calf bone, with the astragalus, the largest ankle bone of dinosaurs and birds. In most dinosaurs, the astragalus was firmly attached to the tibia but not fused with it
tridactyl adj. having three toes
trochanter n. a protuberance on the surface of a bone to which a muscle is attached
ulna n. abbrev. ul the outermost bone of the foreleg/forearm
uncinate process n. a strutlike bone between adjacent ribs in birds, dromaeosaurs and some other theropods
ungual adj. describes the last, outermost bone of the manual or pedal digit. Often forms the core of a claw
ventral adj. describes a feature anatomically located on, closer to, or in the direction of the belly. For example, the manus is ventral of the scapula
vertebra n., pl. vertebrae a bone of the spine (backbone)
zygapophysis n., pl. zygapophyses an anteriorly or posteriorly projecting peg on the neural arch of a vertebra, and articulates with that on the next vertebrae