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axial skeleton

American  

noun

Anatomy.
  1. the skeleton of the head and trunk.


axial skeleton British  

noun

  1. the bones that together comprise the skull and the vertebral column

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of axial skeleton

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"The female has a proportionally longer axial skeleton -- a longer neck and trunk -- and are more sloped in appearance, while the males are more vertical."

From Science Daily

The researchers explained that, unlike our own hips where our bones fit tightly together, the connection between the pelvis and axial skeleton of Tiktaalik was likely a soft-tissue connection made of ligaments.

From Science Daily

In hours spent with Musk in engineering meetings or on factory floors, Isaacson said, “I was genuinely curious about, ‘OK, stainless steel for the axial skeleton of the Cybertruck?

From Los Angeles Times

The second portion, “Garfield County 2”, found in the same formation in 2013, contributed most of the axial skeleton as well as the pelvic region.

From Washington Times

"The new specimen preserves teeth, elements from all regions of the postcranial axial skeleton, parts of both appendicular girdles, and portions of both limbs including a complete metatarsus," the study's abstract reads.

From Fox News