periosteum

[ per-ee-os-tee-uh m ]
/ ˌpɛr iˈɒs ti əm /

noun, plural per·i·os·te·a [per-ee-os-tee-uh] /ˌpɛr iˈɒs ti ə/. Anatomy.

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.

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-

OTHER WORDS FROM periosteum

per·i·os·te·al, per·i·os·te·ous, adjective per·i·os·te·al·ly, adverb sub·per·i·os·te·al, adjective sub·per·i·os·te·al·ly, adverb

Words nearby periosteum

periosteomyelitis, periosteophyte, periosteoplastic amputation, periosteosis, periosteotomy, periosteum, periostitis, periostracum, periotic, periovaritis, peripachymeningitis

Example sentences from the Web for periosteum

British Dictionary definitions for periosteum

periosteum
/ (ˌpɛrɪˈɒstɪəm) /

noun plural -tea (-tɪə)

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

Derived forms of periosteum

periosteal, adjective

Word Origin for periosteum

C16: New Latin, from Greek periosteon, from peri- + osteon bone

Medical definitions for periosteum

periosteum
[ pĕr′ē-ŏs′tē-əm ]

n. pl. per•i•os•te•a (-tē-ə)

The thick fibrous membrane covering the entire surface of a bone except its articular cartilage and serving as an attachment for muscles and tendons.

Other words from periosteum

per′i•os′te•al (-tē-əl) adj.