Dorian Cave May 29, 2012:

I agree with "anterior" (前) and "articular surface" (关节面), but I can't see the "突" in your translation.

I have found plenty of occurrences in medical glossaries where 前 refered to something being "anterior" (and 后, "posterior"), of course, and where the simple expression 关节面 was enough to mean "articular surface". Thus, IMHO, if "anterior/posterior articular surface" can be translated as 前/后关节面, we need to find a word to reflect the 突 here.

In the same medical glossaries I know online, 前突 generally translates as something being "protrudent" (ex. X线观察直肠前突的手术疗效："To observe rectum protrusion (RP) by X-ray."; or 第十二颅神经舌前突运动功能: "Tongue protrusion function of twelfth cranial nerve").

Now, it so happens that a similar adjective appears in the first link you submitted, which you seem to have omitted: "convex". Admittedly, this word generally translates as "凸" rather than "突", but both terms are semantically close (see below). Therefore, such an adjective appears interesting to me, and close to what I suggested.

cf. 新世纪汉英大词典：
凸（形）protruding, raised, bulgy, prominent
突（动）(2) protrude, stick out, project, jut out

Dariush Robertson May 29, 2012:

Anterior articlar surfaces... Dorian, where do you think I got 'anterior articular surfaces' from? I got it from the first text I posted, and if I hadn't read it, then how could I have found it? I honestly believe it is the most suitable translation, and in my opinion it really is a better solution than just literally translating the individual elements and sticking them together.

Dorian Cave May 29, 2012:

"collection of individually translated components" Dariush, did you happen to find the combination of 前 or 后 + "突" anywhere on any webpage? The closest references I found on my side (particularly examples on "http://www.geosci.monash.edu.au/..."
and "http://www.juyy.net/viewPage.php" (keyword: "anterior articular surface") give me either "anterior articular surface" OR expressions related to "protruding (bones, vertEbrae, etc.)"

One expression that could fit is actually recorded on the first link you provide, though you seem not to have noticed it yourself: "...the dorsal verterbrae with slightly { convex } anterior articular surfaces..."

"Convex" is probably a better word to use than "protruding", but at least my suggestion tries to take into account all characters, not just the easiest ones. A patronizing comment such as "you need to be aware of translations which are just collections of individually translated components, stuck together haphazardly..." is neither pleasant nor indeed necessary.

Dariush Robertson May 29, 2012:

It's just not there. Exactly.

Teplocteur May 29, 2012:

correction forget my previous comment.

Teplocteur May 29, 2012:

I agree, vladys. Obviously, a friend of ours hasn't noticed his own fault in his translation here.

Vladyslav Golovaty May 29, 2012:

Plurālis modestiae darerepeat: A vertebra is singular, from Latin verto – to rotate, turn; plural is vertebrae, so to put it “a vertebrae” is not quite 100% unerring ;-)