squamosal

American  

[skwuh-moh-suhl] / skwəˈmoʊ səl /

adjective

1. Anatomy. of or relating to the thin, scalelike portion of the temporal bone that is situated on the side of the skull above and behind the ear.

2. Zoology. pertaining to a corresponding bone in other vertebrates.

3. squamous.

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noun

1. a squamosal bone.

squamosal British  

/ skwəˈməʊsəl /

noun

1. a thin platelike paired bone in the skull of vertebrates: in mammals it forms part of the temporal bone

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adjective

1. of or relating to this bone

2. a less common word for squamous

Other Word Forms

• supersquamosal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of squamosal

1840–50; < Latin squāmōs ( us ) squamous + -al ¹

Example Sentences

In mammals, the dentary bone joins the skull at the squamosal bone, while in other vertebrates, the quadrate bone of the jaw joins with the articular bone of the skull.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

It has especially prominent squamosal horns, an especially rugose-looking integument, and a neat, mottled pattern that involves black blotches on a greenish or yellowish ground colour.

From Scientific American • Feb. 22, 2014

In addition the zygomatic ridge of the squamosal decreases in relative size with decrease in actual size of the skull.

From Speciation of the Wandering Shrew by Findley, James S.

The periotic and tympanic are welded together, but not with the squamosal.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 6 "Home, Daniel" to "Hortensius, Quintus" by Various

The bony part of the proötic is separated dorsally from the squamosal by the cartilaginous crista parotica.

From The Systematics of the Frogs of the Hyla Rubra Group in Middle America by león, Juan R.