An investing part enclosing a cavity such as the chest or abdomen, or covering a cell or any anatomic unit. A w., as of the chest, abdomen, or any hollow organ. SYN: paries [TA]. [L. vallum]
- anterior w. of stomach [TA] the part of the gastric w. that faces the peritoneal cavity. SYN: paries anterior gastris [TA].
- anterior w. of vagina [TA] somewhat shorter than the posterior w. and at its upper end penetrated by the cervix of the uterus. SYN: paries anterior vaginae [TA].
- axial walls of the pulp chambers the walls parallel with the long axis of a tooth : the mesial, distal, buccal, and lingual walls.
- carotid w. of tympanic cavity [TA] it contains the carotid canal and the opening of the auditory tube. SYN: paries caroticus cavi tympani [TA], anterior w. of middle ear, anterior w. of tympanic cavity, carotid w. of middle ear.
- cell w. 1. the outer layer or membrane of some animal and plant cells; in the latter, it is mainly cellulose. 2. in bacteria, the rigid structure, usually containing a peptidoglycan layer, that provides osmotic protection and defines bacterial shape and staining properties.
- chest w. in respiratory physiology, the total system of structures outside the lungs that move as a part of breathing; it includes the rib cage, diaphragm, abdominal w., and abdominal contents. SYN: thoracic w..
- jugular w. of middle ear [TA] the floor of the tympanic cavity; a thin plate of bone separating the tympanic cavity from the jugular fossa. SYN: paries jugularis cavi tympani [TA], floor of tympanic cavity, fundus tympani, inferior w. of tympanic cavity.
- labyrinthine w. of tympanic cavity [TA] a bony layer separating the middle from the internal ear or labyrinth; it contains the fenestra vestibuli and the fenestra cochleae. SYN: paries labyrinthicus cavi tympani [TA], medial w. of tympanic cavity, labyrinthine w. of middle ear, medial w. of middle ear.
- lateral w. of orbit [TA] a triangular w. of the orbit formed by the zygomatic bone, the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, and a small part of the frontal bone; posteriorly it is bounded by the superior and inferior orbital fissures. SYN: paries lateralis orbitae [TA].
- mastoid w. of tympanic cavity [TA] it contains the opening into the mastoid antrum. SYN: paries mastoideus cavi tympani [TA], posterior w. of tympanic cavity, mastoid w. of middle ear, posterior w. of middle ear.
- medial w. of orbit [TA] the thin, rectangular w. of the orbit formed by the orbital plate of the ethmoid, lacrimal, frontal and a small part of the sphenoid bones; the fossa for the lacrimal sac lies at its anterior limit. SYN: paries medialis orbitae [TA].
- membranous w. of trachea [TA] the part of the tracheal w. posteriorly that is not reinforced by tracheal cartilages. SYN: paries membranaceus tracheae [TA].
- membranous w. of tympanic cavity [TA] the w. formed mainly by the tympanic membrane. SYN: paries membranaceus cavi tympani [TA], lateral w. of tympanic cavity, lateral w. of middle ear, membranous w. of middle ear.
- nail w. [TA] the fold of skin overlapping the lateral and proximal margins of the nail. SYN: vallum unguis [TA], nail fold.
- posterior w. of stomach [TA] that part of the gastric w. that faces the omental bursa. SYN: paries posterior gastris [TA].
- posterior w. of vagina [TA] it is longer than the anterior w. and has a low ridge in the midline throughout most of its length. SYN: paries posterior vaginae [TA].
- pulpal w. 1. one of the walls of the pulp cavity; 2. the w. of a cavity preparation adjacent to the pulp space; e.g., mesial pulpal w..
- tegmental w. of tympanic cavity [TA] the superior w., or roof, of the tympanic cavity, formed by the tegmen tympani of the temporal bone. SYN: paries tegmentalis cavi tympani [TA], tegmental root of tympanic cavity, roof of tympanic cavity, tegmental w. of middle ear.
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wall 'wȯl n a structural layer surrounding a cavity, hollow organ, or mass of material <molecules small enough to be absorbed through the intestinal \wall (Josie Glausiusz)> <muscles of the abdominal \wall>
walled 'wȯld adj
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(wawl) 1. the limiting structure of a space, hollow organ, or definitive mass of material. See also paries. 2. the rigid external surface of a horse's hoof.Medical dictionary. 2011.