periosteum

American  

[per-ee-os-tee-uhm] / ˌpɛr iˈɒs ti əm /

noun

Anatomy.

• periostea
  plural

1. the normal investment of bone, consisting of a dense, fibrous outer layer, to which muscles attach, and a more delicate, inner layer capable of forming bone.

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periosteum British  

/ ˌpɛrɪˈɒstɪəm /

noun

1. a thick fibrous two-layered membrane covering the surface of bones

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• periosteal
  adjective
• periosteous
  adjective
• subperiosteal
  adjective
• periosteally
  adverb
• subperiosteally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• periostea
  plural

Etymology

Origin of periosteum

1590–1600; < New Latin, variant of Late Latin periosteon, noun use of neuter of Greek periósteos around the bones. See peri-, osteo-

Compare meaning

How does periosteum compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• periosteum vs. endosteum
• perichondrium vs. periosteum

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

periosteum periostea

The periosteum assists in attaching the bone to surrounding tissues, tendons, and ligaments.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

At the other end of the tendon, it fuses with the periosteum coating the bone.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The periosteum then creates a protective layer of compact bone superficial to the trabecular bone.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The osteocytes in spongy bone are nourished by blood vessels of the periosteum that penetrate spongy bone and blood that circulates in the marrow cavities.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

It forms, therefore, for these bones an internal periosteum, and the meningeal arteries which ramify in it are the nutrient arteries of the inner table.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 4 "Bradford, William" to "Brequigny, Louis" by Various

The periostea, denuded of their covering, were white and smooth, as if they had been polished.

From Toilers of the Sea by Victor Hugo