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trochlea

American  
[trok-lee-uh] / ˈtrɒk li ə /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

trochleae, trochleas
  1. a pulleylike structure or arrangement of parts.


trochlea British  
/ ˈtrɒklɪə /

noun

  1. any bony or cartilaginous part with a grooved surface over which a bone, tendon, etc, may slide or articulate

"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

Etymology

Origin of trochlea

1685–95; < Latin: pulley block or sheave < Greek trochiléa, trochil ( e ) ía; akin to tróchilos sheave, runner, akin to tréchein to run

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.

The angle of the tendon through the trochlea means that contraction of the superior oblique rotates the eye medially.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

A good example is the elbow joint, with the articulation between the trochlea of the humerus and the trochlear notch of the ulna.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The articulating surfaces of the distal humerus consist of the trochlea medially and the capitulum laterally.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

This region articulates with the trochlea of the humerus as part of the elbow joint.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The trochlea is still more independent of the condyles than in the human femur; it is separated from these latter by a slight constriction.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by Cuyer, ?douard