trabecula

noun tra·bec·u·la \ trə-ˈbe-kyə-lə \

Definition of trabecula

plural trabeculae play \trə-ˈbe-kyə-ˌlē, -ˌlī\ also trabeculas

1 : a small bar, rod, bundle of fibers, or septal membrane in the framework of a body organ or part

2 : a fold, ridge, or bar projecting into or extending from a plant part; especially : a row of cells bridging an intercellular space

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trabecular

play \trə-ˈbe-kyə-lər\ adjective

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trabeculate

play \trə-ˈbe-kyə-lət\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of trabecula

New Latin, from Latin, little beam, diminutive of trabs, trabes beam

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1866

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

trabecula

noun tra·bec·u·la \ trə-ˈbek-yə-lə \

medical Definition of trabecula

plural trabeculae play \-ˌlē\ also trabeculas

1 : a small bar, rod, bundle of fibers, or septal membrane in the framework of a bodily organ or part (as the spleen)

2 : one of a pair of longitudinally directed more or less curved cartilaginous rods in the developing skull of a vertebrate that develop under the anterior part of the brain on each side of the pituitary gland and subsequently fuse with each other and with the parachordal cartilages to form the base of the cartilaginous cranium

3 : any of the intersecting osseous bars occurring in cancellous bone