pectoral girdle

American  

noun

1. (in vertebrates) a bony or cartilaginous arch supporting the forelimbs.

2. Also called shoulder girdle.  (in humans) the bony arch formed by the clavicles, or collarbones, and scapulas, or shoulder blades.

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pectoral girdle British  

noun

1. a skeletal support to which the front or upper limbs of a vertebrate are attached

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Etymology

Origin of pectoral girdle

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Fast forward 100 million years, and fish called placoderms swam the seas, with jaws and a primitive “shoulder” or pectoral girdle supporting paired front fins.

From Science Magazine

They also used measurements of mosasaurs' pectoral girdles from other studies to come up with their hypothesis.

From Fox News

In ray-finned fish, such as catfish, the pectoral girdle is directly attached to the skull and retracts when suction feeding occurs.

From National Geographic

For example, "the bones in the pectoral girdle — the bones that support the fins — changed their shape," she says.

From The Verge

Apparently, then, there is not sufficient reason to infer that this Jurassic frog had a pectoral girdle comparable with the modern firmisternal type.

From Project Gutenberg