condylar process
- noun
- /ˈkɒndɪlər ˈprɒsɛs/
- Specialized
:
proceso condilar
- The condylar process of the mandible is essential for proper jaw movement and articulation with the skull.
Examples
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During the surgery, the doctor pointed to the condylar process to explain its role in jaw stability.
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The veterinarian examined the dog's condylar process to check for any signs of injury or misalignment.
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In the meantime, a piece of bone called the condylar process grew posteriorly to help brace the connection between the dentary and postdentary bones.
Academic text (2003)
Synonyms
1
9.9
A rounded end of a bone that joins with another bone
A rounded end of the lower jaw that connects with the skull to make the jaw joint
A rounded part at the top of the lower jaw that joins the skull
Surface Forms
Morphology
The term is fully compositional: 'condylar' denotes a rounded prominence at a joint and 'process' denotes a bony projection, so a learner who knows both parts can infer 'a rounded projection at a joint' that articulates with the skull. Anatomical compounds follow regular morphological composition across languages, making this meaning predictable from the constituents.
Etymology
The term condylar process may come from a word meaning 'knuckle' because condylar means a rounded knob and process means 'a part that sticks out'. So the name gives a simple picture of the rounded part of the lower jaw that fits into the skull and lets the mouth move.