ASIS
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Anterior superior iliac spine |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical, Government & Politics |
ASIS has two meanings. It stands for Anterior superior iliac spine (anatomy) or Australian Secret Intelligence Service (world government).
Meanings of ASIS at a glance
| # | ASIS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anterior superior iliac spine | Medical › Anatomy |
| 2 | Australian Secret Intelligence Service | Government & Politics › World Government |
1. Anterior superior iliac spine
Medical · Anatomy Abbreviations
Bony point at the front end of the iliac crest, easily felt at the front of the hip. It is a landmark for McBurney point, leg-length measurement, the inguinal ligament and the nerve responsible for outer thigh numbness.
Example: Leg length measured ASIS to medial malleolus: right 1.5 cm shorter.
The sartorius muscle originates at the ASIS, and in adolescent sprinters and soccer players a forceful kick can pull off this bony attachment (avulsion fracture). Meralgia paresthetica, burning numbness of the outer thigh, results from compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve as it passes near the ASIS, often from tight belts.
2. Australian Secret Intelligence Service
Government & Politics · World Government Abbreviations
Australia's foreign intelligence agency, which collects human intelligence overseas and conducts counterintelligence abroad. It falls within the foreign affairs portfolio.
Example: A former ASIS officer described recruiting sources in the region.
Founded in 1952, its existence was kept secret even from most of the government until 1977. It is comparable to the UK's MI6. Revelations in 2013 that it had bugged East Timor's cabinet offices during 2004 maritime boundary negotiations brought rare public scrutiny.
Related abbreviations
More anatomy abbreviations
- AC – Acromioclavicular (joint)
- ACL – Anterior cruciate ligament
- ANS – Autonomic nervous system
- Ao – Aorta
- ATFL – Anterior talofibular ligament
- BBB – Blood-brain barrier
- C-spine – Cervical spine
- C1 – First cervical vertebra (atlas)
See all 70 anatomy abbreviations →
More world government abbreviations
- ANC – African National Congress
- APRA – Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
- ASIC – Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- ASIO – Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
- ATO – Australian Taxation Office
- BJP – Bharatiya Janata Party
- BND – Federal Intelligence Service
- BQ – Bloc Québécois
See all 103 world government abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.