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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.

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

However, the tendon of the oblique muscles threads through a pulley-like piece of cartilage known as the trochlea.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

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

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The radius articulates with the trochlea and the condyle, having appropriated a portion of the ulna, as is proved by the presence of the coronoid process, which belongs to the former.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by Cuyer, ?douard