Process (anatomy)



In anatomy, a process (processus), or apophysis, is a projection or outgrowth of tissue from a larger body. For instance, in a vertebra, a process may serve for muscle attachment and leverage (as in the case of the transverse and spinous processes), or to fit (forming a synovial joint), with another vertebra (as in the case of the articular processes).

Examples
Examples of processes include:
 * The many processes of the human skull:
 * The mastoid and styloid processes of the temporal bone
 * The zygomatic process of the temporal bone
 * The zygomatic process of the frontal bone
 * The orbital, temporal, lateral, frontal, and maxillary processes of the zygomatic bone
 * The anterior, middle, and posterior clinoid processes and the petrosal process of the sphenoid bone
 * The uncinate process of the ethmoid bone
 * The jugular process
 * The alveolar, frontal, zygomatic, and palatine processes of the maxilla
 * The ethmoidal and maxillary processes of the inferior nasal concha
 * The pyramidal, orbital, and sphenoidal processes of the palatine bone
 * The coronoid and condyloid processes of the mandible
 * The xiphoid process at the end of the sternum
 * The acromion and coracoid processes of the scapula
 * The coronoid process of the ulna
 * The radial and ulnar styloid processes
 * The uncinate processes of ribs found in birds and reptiles
 * The uncinate process of the pancreas
 * The spinous, articular, transverse, accessory, uncinate, and mammillary processes of the vertebrae
 * The trochlear process of the heel
 * The appendix, which is sometimes called the "vermiform process", notably in Gray's Anatomy