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os

os

9.9
A hard part inside the body that forms the skeleton
  • noun
  • /ɑs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hueso
  • During the examination, she discovered a fracture in a small os of the wrist.

Examples

  • The resection exposed the sphenoid os, which was then enlarged.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The doctor explained that the femur is the longest os in the human body.

  • By studying fossils, researchers can learn about the structure of ancient os.

Synonyms

bone
vsos
1.0

A hard part inside the body that forms the skeleton

is the anatomical term used in medical contexts rather than everyday speech

Compounds

os breve
  • Specialized
9.9

A short bone like a wrist or ankle bone

os capitatum
  • Specialized
9.9

A large bone in the middle of the wrist that joins the middle finger bone

os nasale
  • Specialized
9.9

A small thin bone that forms the bridge of the nose

os palatinum
  • Specialized
9.9

A bone at the back of the roof of the mouth that helps form the nose and eye socket floor

os pisiforme
  • Specialized
9.9

A small pea-shaped bone on the little finger side of the wrist that touches only one other wrist bone

os pubis
  • Specialized
8.7

The front part of the hip bone that helps make the pelvis

os frontale
  • Specialized
9.9

A large bone at the front of the skull that forms the forehead and upper eye sockets

os hamatum
  • Specialized
9.9

A hook-shaped bone in the wrist near the little and ring fingers

os hyoideum
  • Specialized
9.9

A U-shaped bone under the tongue that supports its muscles

os ischii
  • Specialized
9.9

The lower back part of the hip bone that you sit on

os longum
  • Specialized
9.9

A long, round bone in the arm or leg that has marrow inside

os lunatum
  • Specialized
9.9

A small bone in the wrist near the middle of the first row of bones

os temporale
  • Specialized
9.2

A bone on the side of the skull that holds and protects the inner ear

os trapezium
  • Specialized
9.8

A small wrist bone on the thumb side that joins the base of the thumb and index finger

os trapezoideum
  • Specialized
9.9

A small bone in the wrist near the base of the index finger

os triquetrum
  • Specialized
9.9

A small bone in the wrist that connects to the pisiform, hamate, and lunate bones

os zygomaticum
  • Specialized
9.8

A bone under the eye that forms the cheek

os scaphoideum
  • Specialized
9.3

A bone near the base of the thumb that is the largest bone in the wrist

os sesamoideum
  • Specialized
9.9

A small round bone inside a tendon where it passes over a joint, often in hands or feet

os sphenoidale
  • Specialized
9.9

A butterfly-shaped bone at the base of the skull that helps form the eye sockets and support the brain

os tarsi fibulare
  • Specialized
9.9

A large bone at the back of the foot that forms the heel

Surface Forms

os singular
oses plural

Etymology

Os (meaning 'bone') comes from Latin os/ossis, which meant 'bone'. So this sense of os names a bone, and you can see the same root in the English word ossify ('to turn into bone').