epiphysis
Americannoun
plural
epiphyses-
a part or process of a bone separated from the main body of the bone by a layer of cartilage and subsequently uniting with the bone through further ossification.
noun
-
the end of a long bone, initially separated from the shaft (diaphysis) by a section of cartilage that eventually ossifies so that the two portions fuse together
-
Also called: epiphysis cerebri. the technical name for pineal gland
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of epiphysis
1625–35; < New Latin < Greek epíphysis a growth upon, equivalent to epi- epi- + phýsis growth ( phȳ́ ( ein ) to make grow, bring forth, produce + -sis -sis )
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 cells, which are pushed from the epiphysis, mature and are destroyed by calcification.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
The epiphysis of the femur is roughly hexagonal in shape.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015
The superior end of the diaphysis is connected to the epiphysis.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015
The diaphysis contains compact bone surrounding a medullary cavity containing bone marrow On either end is an epiphysis containing cancellous or spongy bone.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015
Islands of cartilage appear in the epiphysis of the head of the femur, and the epiphysis itself becomes flattened without involvement of the articular surface or of the acetabulum.
From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
