squamosal

American  

[skwuh-moh-suhl] / skwəˈmoʊ səl /

adjective

1. Anatomy. of or relating to the thin, scalelike portion of the temporal bone that is situated on the side of the skull above and behind the ear.

2. Zoology. pertaining to a corresponding bone in other vertebrates.

3. squamous.

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noun

1. a squamosal bone.

squamosal British  

/ skwəˈməʊsəl /

noun

1. a thin platelike paired bone in the skull of vertebrates: in mammals it forms part of the temporal bone

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adjective

1. of or relating to this bone

2. a less common word for squamous

Other Word Forms

• supersquamosal adjective

Etymology

Origin of squamosal

1840–50; < Latin squāmōs ( us ) squamous + -al ¹

Example Sentences

In mammals, the dentary bone joins the skull at the squamosal bone, while in other vertebrates, the quadrate bone of the jaw joins with the articular bone of the skull.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

It has especially prominent squamosal horns, an especially rugose-looking integument, and a neat, mottled pattern that involves black blotches on a greenish or yellowish ground colour.

From Scientific American • Feb. 22, 2014

In this genus M. depressor mandibulae consists of two parts, one arising from the dorsal fascia and one from the posterior arm of the squamosal.

From Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca by Duellman, William E.

Two muscles arise from the anterior arm of the squamosal and insert on the lateral face of the mandible.

From Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca by Duellman, William E.

The squamosal is small, its anterior arm slender and pointed.

From The Systematics of the Frogs of the Hyla Rubra Group in Middle America by león, Juan R.