Carina

/kəˈrinə/ noun

Definition

A keel-like structure or ridge, used in anatomy to describe features of the lungs or other organs.

Etymology

From Latin 'carina' meaning 'keel of a ship.' In anatomy, the term was borrowed because the structure resembles the keel of a ship.

Kelly Says

In your lungs, there's a structure called the carina that looks like a ship's keel—it's where your windpipe splits. Medical language is full of these beautiful metaphors where doctors compared body parts to ships and architecture!

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