What Does Superficial Mean In Anatomy

Of or relating to the surface. Medical definition of superficial.

Superficial Anterior Muscles Medlineplus Medical

Definition of the anatomical direction term superficial as used in anatomy biology kinesiology and medicine with examples of use of the term.

What does superficial mean in anatomy. Said especially in respect to study learning and the like. Superficialadj reaching or comprehending only what is obvious or apparent. Not profound or thorough.

The venaseal system is intended for patients with superficial varicose veins of the legs that cause symptoms. Being at on or near the surface. Concerned with or comprehending only what is on the surface or obvious.

In anatomy superficial is a directional term that indicates one structure is located more externally than another or closer to the surface of the body. If you describe something such as an action feeling or relationship as superficial you mean that it includes only the simplest and most obvious aspects of that thing and not those aspects which require more effort to deal with or understand. In anatomy on the surface or shallow.

As opposed to deep. The opposite of superficial is deep. As a superficial scholar.

Apparent rather than real. Superficial in medical terms means affecting or being on the surface as in superficial wound. For instance a wart is a superficial lesion.

For example the spine is deep in the body while the skin is superficial. Not deep or profound. The cornea is on the superficial surface of the eye.

On histology the tumor presented as a superficial lobulated plate like epithelial proliferation with multiple broad connections to the epidermis and well defined pushing borders into the papillary dermis fig. The skin is superficial to the muscles. The word denotes something that is not deep.

For a more complete listing of terms used in medicine for spatial orientation please see the entry to anatomic orientation terms.

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