incisurae

Incisurae (singular incisura) are anatomical notches or indentations named from the Latin incisura, meaning notch. The term is used across the skeleton and surrounding soft tissues to denote a shallow depression or groove that often marks a boundary, provides a passage for nerves or vessels, or serves as an attachment site for ligaments or muscles. The exact structure referred to as an incisura varies by region; many bones carry a notch designated incisura where a nerve or vessel passes or where a ligament or tendon attaches.

Well-known examples include the incisura angularis, an angular notch on the lesser curvature of the stomach that marks the transition between the body and the pyloric region; and the scapular notch (incisura scapulae) along the superior border of the scapula, bridged by the superior transverse scapular ligament. The suprascapular nerve typically passes under this ligament, while the suprascapular vessels pass over it. Another group comprises the vertebral notches, namely the superior and inferior vertebral notches (incisura vertebralis superior and inferior) on the pedicles of vertebrae, which together contribute to forming the boundaries of the intervertebral foramina.

In summary, incisurae are descriptive terms used to name notches in various anatomical contexts, reflecting their role as landmarks, passageways, or attachment sites in the human body.