atlas +(Greek > Latin: one of the Titans, son of Iapetus and Clymene, supporting the heavens on his shoulders; later, a king of Mauretania, changed by Perseus into Mt. Atlas [Greek mythology])Literally, "the Bearer [of Heaven] ". Atlas
In Greek mythology, a Titan who was forced by Zeus to support the heavens on his shoulders as a punishment.
atlas (s), atlases (pl)
1. A book containing maps and vital statistics relating to geographic regions.
2. An architecture figure of man used as support; such as, a figure of a man, either standing or kneeling, used as a support for the upper part of a classical building. 3. A ringlike bone in tetrapods (four-footed creatures) that forms the first neck (cervical) vertebra of the vertebral column, on which the skull rests. In reptiles, birds, and mammals, it articulates with the skull to allow nodding of the head and articulates with the axis to allow rotatory movement. 4. In general anatomy, referring to the top bone in neck: the vertebra that is at the top of the spinal column and which supports the skull. The atlas locks with the skull on rotation and turns with the head.The anatomical name, atlas, refers to the first vertebra; so called, because it holds up the skull (globe). It was named by the Belgian anatomist Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564). If there are any numbers below, use them to see other pages in this unit.Back to Index | Search Box | Main Index The Main-Word Info pageThe + sign at the end of a unit title means all of the words in that unit have definitions.Directory of special content and topicsDo you want to help to make this dictionary bigger and better?
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