internae

Internae is a Latin term that appears in historical anatomy and biology literature. It is typically formed as the feminine plural nominative of interna, or as the feminine plural form of an adjective meaning “internal.” In such contexts, internæ is used to denote internal parts or structures within a body or organ, often contrasted with externæ to indicate interior versus exterior aspects.

In modern English-language writing, internæ is not a standard technical term. When it appears, it is usually within Latin phrases retained from older works or in taxonomic or nomenclatural contexts that preserve Latin forms. The term is most likely to be encountered in historical descriptions of anatomy, where authors labeled internal features, cavities, or layers using abbreviations or paired contrasts such as internæ and externæ.

Because internæ is not widely used as a standalone English term, its precise meaning is best inferred from context. Readers should look for accompanying nouns or adjectives that clarify what is being described as internal, and note whether the term is juxtaposed with externæ or other spatial descriptors. In contemporary practice, English equivalents such as internal, interior, or internal parts are preferred to convey the same concept more clearly.

See also: Latin in scientific nomenclature; anatomical terminology; internal vs external.