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epiphysis

American  
[ih-pif-uh-sis] / ɪˈpɪf ə sɪs /

noun

Anatomy.
  • epiphyses
    plural
  1. 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.

  2. pineal gland.


epiphysis British  
/ ˌɛpɪˈfɪzɪəl, ɪˈpɪfɪsɪs /

noun

  1. 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

  2. Also called: epiphysis cerebri.  the technical name for pineal gland

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

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.

See Examples For:

The cells, which are pushed from the epiphysis, mature and are destroyed by calcification.

From Textbooks Jun. 9, 2022

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

The internal anatomy of the epiphysis is revealed.

From Textbooks Jan. 1, 2015

Like the primary ossification center, secondary ossification centers are present during endochondral ossification, but they form later, and there are two of them, one in each epiphysis.

From Textbooks Jun. 19, 2013

Separation of the lower epiphysis of the tibia is not common.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Alexander Miles

In the last stage of prenatal bone development, the centers of the epiphyses begin to calcify.

From Textbooks Jun. 9, 2022

Secondary ossification centers form in the epiphyses as blood vessels and osteoblasts enter these areas and convert hyaline cartilage into spongy bone.

From Textbooks Jun. 9, 2022

The epiphyses also contain hyaline cartilage for forming joints with other bones.

From Textbooks Jan. 1, 2015

The epiphyses, which are wider sections at each end of a long bone, are filled with spongy bone and red marrow.

From Textbooks Jun. 19, 2013

The epiphyses are nourished by a separate system of blood vessels, derived from the arteries which supply the adjacent joint.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Alexis Thomson

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