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periosteum

American  
[per-ee-os-tee-uhm] / ˌpɛr iˈɒs ti əm /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

periostea

  1. the normal investment of bone, consisting of a dense, fibrous outer layer, to which muscles attach, and a more delicate, inner layer capable of forming bone.

periosteum British  
/ ˌpɛrɪˈɒstɪəm /

noun

  1. a thick fibrous two-layered membrane covering the surface of bones

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • periosteal adjective
  • periosteally adverb
  • periosteous adjective
  • subperiosteal adjective
  • subperiosteally adverb

Etymology

Origin of periosteum

1590–1600; < New Latin, variant of Late Latin periosteon, noun use of neuter of Greek periósteos around the bones. See peri-, osteo-

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Vocabulary lists containing periosteum

Human Anatomy and Physiology - High School

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The bone is covered with an outer translucent sheet called the periosteum.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

At the other end of the tendon, it fuses with the periosteum coating the bone.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Tendons and ligaments also attach to bones at the periosteum.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Immature osteogenic cells are found in the deep layers of the periosteum and the marrow.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The periosteum strips very easily from the bone.

From Special Report on Diseases of Cattle by United States. Bureau of Animal Industry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.