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Glite Dictionary
👅 Tissue fold 🦋 Wing connector
frenulum

frenulum

1 9.0
A small fold of tissue that limits movement of a body part, for example under the tongue
  • noun
  • /ˈfrɛn.jə.ləm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : frenillo
  • Smothering always leaves traces: A torn upper lip frenulum, signs of positional asphyxia, dots of blood in the lungs, and in Isabel's case, there was no evidence that she'd been smothered.

Examples

  • Babies with a tight frenulum may struggle to latch during breastfeeding.

  • I looked around and deduced she had split her frenulum—the little piece of tissue that connects your gumline to the inside of your upper lip.

    Blog text (7)

  • My friend hurt her frenulum once and showed me, and now I have total squeamishness about that.

    Blog text (7)

  • The submandibular duct is formed in the superficial part of the gland and passes through the deep part, where it opens into the anterior floor of the mouth at the side of the frenulum of the tongue.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The doctor explained that the frenulum limits how much the tongue can move.

  • She learned that a frenulum connects her lip to her gumline, affecting her speech.

Synonyms

frenum
vsfrenulum
  • Specialized
9.3

A small fold of tissue that limits movement of the tongue or lip

is broader, including folds that limit movement of an organ or part

Surface Forms

frenulum singular
frenula plural

Etymology

Frenulum comes from the Latin word frenum, meaning 'bridle' or 'a strap used to control a horse', so think of a very small bridle that holds a tongue or lip in place and limits its movement.