trochlea

[ trok-lee-uh ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural troch·le·ae [trok, -lee-ee], troch·le·as.

1. a pulleylike structure or arrangement of parts.

trochlea

/ ˈtrɒklɪə /

noun

1. any bony or cartilaginous part with a grooved surface over which a bone, tendon, etc, may slide or articulate

Word History and Origins

Origin of trochlea¹

1685–95; < Latin: pulley block or sheave < Greek trochiléa, trochil ( e ) ía; akin to tróchilos sheave, runner, akin to tréchein to run

Word History and Origins

Origin of trochlea¹

C17: from Latin, from Greek trokhileia a sheaf of pulleys; related to trokhos wheel, trekhein to run

Example Sentences

Trochlea, trok′lē-a, n. a pulley-like cartilage through which the superior oblique muscle of the eye-ball passes: in the elbow-joint, the articular surface of the lower extremity of the humerus, grasped by the greater sigmoid cavity of the ulna.—adjs.

From Project Gutenberg

Troch′lēar, shaped like a pulley; Troch′lēary, relating to the trochlea.

From Project Gutenberg

That which represents the tendinous part, which is also fleshy, as we have just pointed out, arises above with the common extensor of the toes, from the femur, in the fossa situated between the trochlea and the external condyle; whilst below, after having given passage to the tendon of the preceding portion, as in the horse, it is inserted into the metatarsus and the cuneiform bones.

From Project Gutenberg

The inferior extremity, transversely enlarged, presents an undulating articular surface, which reminds us of the trochlea and the condyle of the human humerus; on which, however, the condyle is more sharply defined from the trochlea.

From Project Gutenberg

In contrast to the condition found in man, the condyle descends to a level a little below that of the internal lip of the trochlea.

From Project Gutenberg