trabecula

noun

tra·​bec·​u·​la trə-ˈbe-kyə-lə How to pronounce trabecula (audio)
plural trabeculae trə-ˈbe-kyə-ˌlē How to pronounce trabecula (audio)
-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
trabecular adjective
trabeculate adjective

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trabecula was circa 1866

Dictionary Entries Near trabecula

Cite this Entry

“Trabecula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trabecula. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

trabecula

noun
tra·​bec·​u·​la trə-ˈbek-yə-lə How to pronounce trabecula (audio)
plural trabeculae -ˌlē How to pronounce trabecula (audio) 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
trabecular adjective
trabeculate adjective

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