chiasma
[ kahy-az-muh ]
/ kaɪˈæz mə /
noun, plural chi·as·mas, chi·as·ma·ta [kahy-az-muh-tuh] /kaɪˈæz mə tə/.
Anatomy.
a crossing or decussation, as that of the optic nerves at the base of the brain.
Cell Biology.
a point of overlap of paired chromatids at which fusion and exchange of genetic material take place during prophase of meiosis.
Also
chi·asm
[kahy-az-uh m] /ˈkaɪ æz əm/.
Origin of chiasma
OTHER WORDS FROM chiasma
chi·as·mal, chi·as·mic, chi·as·mat·ic [kahy-az-mat-ik] /ˌkaɪ æzˈmæt ɪk/, adjectiveWords nearby chiasma
chiao,
chiaochou,
chiapas,
chiari's syndrome,
chiaroscuro,
chiasma,
chiasmatypy,
chiasmus,
chiastic,
chiastolite,
chiaus
Example sentences from the Web for chiasma
British Dictionary definitions for chiasma
chiasma
chiasm (ˈkaɪæzəm)
/ (kaɪˈæzmə) /
noun plural -mas, -mata (-mətə) or -asms
cytology
the cross-shaped connection produced by the crossing over of pairing chromosomes during meiosis
anatomy
the crossing over of two parts or structures, such as the fibres of the optic nerves in the brain
Derived forms of chiasma
chiasmal or chiasmic, adjectiveWord Origin for chiasma
C19: from Greek
khiasma wooden crosspiece, from
khiazein to mark with an X, from
khi
chi
1
Medical definitions for chiasma
chiasma
[ kī-ăz′mə ]
n. pl. chi•as•mas
A crossing or intersection of two tracts, as of nerves or ligaments.
The point of contact between paired chromatids during meiosis, resulting in a cross-shaped configuration and representing the cytological manifestation of crossing over.