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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 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

A long bone has two parts: the diaphysis and the epiphysis.

From Textbooks Jun. 19, 2013

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 is a comparatively common injury.

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

The epiphyses of bones, such as the neck of the femur, are subject to stress from many directions.

From Textbooks Jun. 9, 2022

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

From Textbooks Jun. 9, 2022

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

From Textbooks Jan. 1, 2015

This begins as a primary ossification center in the diaphysis, followed by the later appearance of one or more secondary ossifications centers in the regions of the epiphyses.

From Textbooks Jun. 19, 2013

In young subjects, for example, epiphysial lines may be mistaken for fractures, or the ossifying centres of epiphyses for separated fragments of bone.

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

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