Complete the stem: triceps sur___

Complete the stem: triceps sur___

• A. Suras
• B. Sura
• C. Surae
• D. Surus

Answer: (C)

Latin genitive usage in anatomical terms explains this. In the name triceps surae, sura means calf, and the form surae is the genitive singular of that noun, giving the sense “of the calf.” This name denotes the three-headed pair of calf muscles—the gastrocnemius (with its two heads) plus the soleus. The other endings don’t fit because they would either be the wrong case or number (for example, sura would be nominative singular, not “of the calf,” and suras would be the wrong form for this construction; surus isn’t the proper Latin form here). So surae is the form that correctly completes the phrase.

Latin genitive usage in anatomical terms explains this. In the name triceps surae, sura means calf, and the form surae is the genitive singular of that noun, giving the sense “of the calf.” This name denotes the three-headed pair of calf muscles—the gastrocnemius (with its two heads) plus the soleus. The other endings don’t fit because they would either be the wrong case or number (for example, sura would be nominative singular, not “of the calf,” and suras would be the wrong form for this construction; surus isn’t the proper Latin form here). So surae is the form that correctly completes the phrase.