SPHENOCCIPITAL Meaning and
Definition
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The term "sphenoccipital" refers to an anatomical structure found in some vertebrates, particularly in reptiles and birds. It is derived from the combination of two words: "sphenoid" and "occipital," which are also anatomical terms referring to specific bones in the skull.
In the context of these creatures, sphenoccipital typically refers to the fusion or connection between the sphenoid bone and the occipital bone in the skull. These bones make up important parts of the cranial skeleton and play a role in providing support and protection to various vital structures, such as the brain.
The sphenoid bone is a butterfly-shaped bone located at the base of the skull, while the occipital bone is situated at the back of the head. The sphenoccipital fusion occurs when these two bones join or become closely connected, forming a single unit.
This anatomical feature varies across different species, and its presence or absence can have implications for the animal's overall skull structure, mechanics, and evolutionary adaptations. The sphenoccipital fusion is considered to be a significant characteristic in some reptiles and birds, contributing to their unique skull morphology and providing additional strength and stability to the skull.
Understanding the term "sphenoccipital" is essential in the fields of comparative anatomy, paleontology, and zoology, as it helps in classifying and identifying different species based on their skull characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SPHENOCCIPITAL
- aphenoccipital
- zphenoccipital
- xphenoccipital
- dphenoccipital
- ephenoccipital
- wphenoccipital
- sohenoccipital
- slhenoccipital
- s-henoccipital
- s0henoccipital
- spgenoccipital
- spbenoccipital
- spnenoccipital
- spjenoccipital
- spuenoccipital
- spyenoccipital
- sphwnoccipital
- sphsnoccipital
- sphdnoccipital
- sphrnoccipital
Etymology of SPHENOCCIPITAL
The word "sphenoccipital" is a combination of two anatomical terms: "sphenoid" and "occipital".
"Sphenoid" comes from the Greek word "sphēnoeidḗs", which means "shaped like a wedge". The term refers to the sphenoid bone, a butterfly-shaped bone located at the base of the skull.
"Occipital" comes from the Latin word "occiput", meaning "back of the head". The term refers to the occipital bone, a bone that forms the posterior (back) part of the skull.
When combined, "sphenoccipital" refers to any structure or relating to the sphenoid and occipital bones.
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