petrous
[pe-truh s, pee-]
adjective
Anatomy. noting or pertaining to the hard dense portion of the temporal bone, containing the internal auditory organs; petrosal.
like stone, especially in hardness; stony; rocky.
Origin of petrous
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for petrous
jagged, craggy, rough, flinty, hard, inflexible, petrified, solid, lapidarian, lithic, pebbly, rock-ribbedExamples from the Web for petrous
Historical Examples of petrous
The bones related to the organ of hearing, the tympanis and petrous bones, are very solid and dense in structure.
The Cambridge Natural History, Vol X., MammaliaFrank Evers Beddard
On its inner side is a small air chamber in the petrous portion of the temporal bone, called the cavity of the tympanum.
A Practical PhysiologyAlbert F. Blaisdell
From the surrounding 794 mesoderm the petrous bone is formed by a process of chondrification and ossification.
The bony labyrinth presents a series of cavities which are channelled through the substance of the petrous bone.
By this means the posterior surface of the petrous bone can be exposed as far inwards as the internal auditory meatus.
petrous
adjective
Word Origin for petrous
C16: from Latin petrōsus full of rocks
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
petrous
[pĕt′rəs]
adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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