Author: Glossary

  • Angle of refraction

    The angle formed by a refracted ray of light with a line perpendicular to the surface at the refraction point.  

  • Pubic angle

    The angle formed by the junction of the rami of the pubic bones.  

  • Parietal angle

    The angle formed by the meeting of a line drawn tangent to the maximum curve of the zygomatic arch and a line drawn tangent to the end of the maximum frontal diameter of the skull. If these lines are parallel, the angle is zero; if they diverge, a negative angle is formed. In dentistry, a…

  • Ophryospinal angle

    The angle formed at the anterior nasal spine by the intersection of lines drawn from the auricular point and the glabella.  

  • Occipital angle

    The angle formed at the opisthion by the intersection of lines from the basion and from the lower border of the orbit.  

  • Metafacial angle

    The angle between the base of the skull and the pterygoid process.  

  • Angle of jaw

    The angle formed where the vertical back edge of the ramus of the mandible meets the horizontal edge along the bottom.  

  • Angle of incidence

    The angle between a ray striking a surface and a line drawn perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence. The angle at which a ray of light encounters a reflecting or refracting surface.  

  • Hilgenreiner’s epiphyseal angle

    The angle formed by a line drawn through the triradiate and a line drawn through the physes of the femoral head. This angle is normally 25°. Coxa vara is marked by angles greater than 25°; coxa valga by angles less than 25°.  

  • Gamma angle

    The angle between the line of vision and the optic axis.