Glossary
labial
for incisors and canines, a relative term referring to the part of the tooth that is closer to the front of the mouth or lips; the opposite of lingual.
Lamarckism
the inheritance of acquired characters.
lambdoid
cranial suture that articulates between the parietals and occipital bones in the cranium.
last lumbar
counting from the top, the last per-sacral vertebra forming the lower-back.
last thoracic
counting from the top, the last vertebra in the mid-back region.
late childhood
considered to be between the ages of 6 and 12 years.
lateral
a relative term used to describe features that are farther from the midline or center of the body; the opposite of medial.
lateral cuneiform
second-most lateral tarsal bone located on the distal row.
lesser apes
the gibbon and siamang.
life expectancy
the average age an organism is expected to live.
life history
what an organism goes through and its developments from conception until death.
lineage
the descendants or ancestors of an individual or family.
lingual
a relative term referring to the part of the tooth that is closer to the tongue; the opposite of buccal and labial.
locomotion
movement to or from a place by an organism. Forms of locomotion include bipedalism, knuckle walking, brachiation, swimming, flying, etc.
lumbar
the section of the back between the thorax and the pelvis.
lumbar curvature
the anteriorly convex curvature of the spine in the region of the lumbar vertebrae; helps to distribute the weight of the upper body more efficiently and brings the center of gravity closer to the midline and above the feet.
lumbar vertebrae
refers to the vertebrae that are located between the thoracic vertebrae and the sacrum.
lunate
the second bone in the proximal row of the wrist; crescent shaped.