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postorbital

postorbital

9.9
A bone behind the eye socket in animals like reptiles or dinosaurs
  • noun
  • /ˌpoʊstˈɔrbɪtəl/
  • Specialized
: hueso postorbital
  • Scientists identified the fossil by examining the shape of its postorbital bone.

Examples

  • In some reptiles, the postorbital helps form the side of the skull behind the eye.

  • Some reptiles have pronounced postorbitals that aid in muscle attachment.

  • The dinosaur's postorbital was unusually thick, suggesting it had a powerful bite.

  • The postorbital bone provides structural support to the skull.

  • Scientists identified the fossil by examining the shape of its postorbital bone.

  • In some reptiles, the postorbital helps form the side of the skull behind the eye.

  • The dinosaur's postorbital was unusually thick, suggesting it had a powerful bite.

Surface Forms

postorbital singular
postorbitals plural

Morphology

postorbital = orbital (transparent) = post + orbit + al

Formation is post- + orbital (adjective), which directly yields a noun for the bone behind the orbit.

Etymology

Postorbital as a noun meaning a bone comes from the parts post- 'behind' and orbit 'eye socket', so it names the bone or bony ridge found just behind the eye.