The previous post had little, if anything, to do with the human body and more to do with South London's railways. So, here is a post about genuinely named anatomical junctions. I provide it by way of compensation and recompense for the previous post.
The following is a list of terms containing the word 'junction.' I have limited it to structures larger than cell size and provided a brief description for each:
- Atrioventricular Junction: The junction between the atria and ventricles of the heart, where the heart valves and conducting system are located.
- Costochondral Junction: The junction between the ribs and their costal cartilage, which allows for flexibility in the rib cage.
- Myotendinous Junction: The junction between a muscle and its tendon, where the force of muscle contraction is transmitted.
- Neurovascular Junction: The junction between nerves and blood vessels, often referring to points where nerves and vessels run close together.
- Oesophagogastric Junction: The junction between the oesophagus and the stomach, where the lining of the digestive tract changes.
- Rectosigmoid Junction: The junction between the rectum and the sigmoid colon, a transition point in the large intestine.
- Sacrococcygeal Junction: The junction between the sacrum and the coccyx, a slightly movable joint.
- Sternoclavicular Junction: The junction between the sternum (breastbone) and the clavicle (collarbone), a key joint for shoulder movement.
- Vesicourethral Junction: The junction between the bladder and the urethra, controlling the flow of urine.
I cannot vouch for how exhaustive this list may be. My online searches (including the use of AI) yielded just these. I do not remember the term 'junction' being used frequently. Indeed, only a few of those above (such as the costochondral junction and the rectosigmoid junction) were ever commonplace. Rather, the sacrococcygeal junction was more often referred to as the sacrococcygeal joint and the sternoclavicular junction as the sternoclavicular joint.
At every meeting of two veins, there is a junction. (Following the direction of blood flow, veins DO NOT branch.) Where named, a venous junction seems to reflect a need for clinical rather than anatomical precision. I was never taught a litany on named venous junctions.
