chondrocranium

[ kon-droh-krey-nee-uhm ]

noun

, plural chon·dro·cra·ni·ums, chon·dro·cra·ni·a [kon-droh-, krey, -nee-, uh].

1. a braincase composed of cartilage rather than bone, as the skull of sharks and of the vertebrate embryo before ossification.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chondrocranium¹

First recorded in 1870–75; chondr(i)o- + cranium

Example Sentences

Behind, the primary skull or chondrocranium gives off two occipal or rear skull plates.

From Project Gutenberg

These two conditions result from the inability of the dermal bones to fill at the proper period the gaps in the chondrocranium.

From Project Gutenberg

The chondrocranium, jaws, arches, and muscles of a partly grown larva.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Dipneusti36 the chondrocranium is strengthened in the adult by numerous bones.

From Project Gutenberg

Numerous membrane bones cover the chondrocranium externally.

From Project Gutenberg