ALISPHENOIDS Meaning and
Definition
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Alisphenoids, also known as alisphenoid bones, are a pair of skull bones found in mammals, including humans, located in the posterior region of the skull. Specifically, alisphenoids are cranial bones situated on both sides of the skull just behind the frontal bones and bounded by the temporal bones.
These bones are vital components of the cranial structure as they contribute to the formation of several important cranial structures. Alisphenoids participate in the formation of the middle cranial fossa, which is a depression in the base of the skull that accommodates vital brain structures. They also contribute to the formation of the lateral walls of the skull and the floor of the temporal bone.
In terms of anatomy, alisphenoids are typically thin, flat, and irregularly quadrilateral in shape. They typically extend laterally and medially to form contacts with other skull bones, including the frontal, parietal, squamous temporal, and sphenoid bones. The surface of the alisphenoid bone often presents various foramina (openings) and canals, allowing passage for nerves and vessels that supply important regions of the brain and face.
Overall, the alisphenoids play an essential role in the structural integrity of the skull and contribute significantly to the formation of key cranial structures.
Etymology of ALISPHENOIDS
The word "alisphenoids" has its etymology rooted in Greek and Latin.
The term comes from the combination of two Greek words: "alēs" meaning "wing" and "sphēnos" meaning "wedge-shaped". In Greek anatomy, "alisphenoid" refers to the sphenoid bone, a wedge-shaped bone located at the base of the skull.
The Latin suffix "-oid" implies "resemblance" or "form". Therefore, "alisphenoid" signifies a bone resembling a wing or wedge shape. The plural form of the word, "alisphenoids", denotes multiple such bones or the pair of alisphenoid bones that exist in some animals, including humans.
