Crossword clues for ossicle
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Ossicle \Os"si*cle\, n. [L. ossiculum, dim. of os, ossis, a bone.]
A little bone; as, the auditory ossicles in the tympanum of the ear.
(Zo["o]l.) One of numerous small calcareous structures forming the skeleton of certain echinoderms, as the starfishes.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1570s, from Latin ossiculum, diminutive of os "bone" (see osseous).
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context anatomy English) A small bone (or bony structure), especially one of the three of the middle ear. 2 (context zoology English) Bone-like joint or plate, especially: 3 # one of numerous small calcareous structures forming the skeleton of certain echinoderms, as the starfishes; 4 # one of the hard articuli or joints of the stem or branches of a crinoid or encrinite; 5 # one of the several small hard chitinous parts or processes of the gastric skeleton of crustaceans, as in the stomach of a lobster or crawfish. 6 # ''The skeleton of echinoderms is made of '''ossicles''', linked to each other via muscles and connective tissue.''
WordNet
Wikipedia
Ossicles are small calcareous elements embedded in the dermis of the body wall of echinoderms. They form part of the endoskeleton and provide rigidity and protection. They are found in different forms and arrangements in sea urchins, starfish, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, and crinoids. The ossicles and spines (which are specialised sharp ossicles) are the only parts of the animal likely to be fossilized after an echinoderm dies.
Usage examples of "ossicle".
If the tiny muscles attached to them are damaged, or if the nerves leading to those muscles are, the ossicle movements become somewhat erratic.
There never had been any discernible damage to the auditory nerves, no apparent disorder to the ossicle, cochlea, or eardrum of either ear.
The outermost of the three ossicles is attached to the tympanum and moves with it.
The whole structure from the tympanum to this small opening, including the tympanic cavity and the ossicles, is called the middle ear.
The function of the ossicles is more than that of transmitting the vibration pattern of the tympanum.
Sound waves are conducted through the bones of the skull, but the ossicles do not respond to these with nearly the sensitivity with which they respond to tympanic movements, and this is also most helpful.
For in the ear the sound-waves are first of all taken over by the so-called ossicles, three small bones in the middle ear which, when examined with the Goethean eye, appear to be a complete metamorphosis of ah arm or a leg.
The vibrations of the sound waves passed to her radius and ulna, her humerus, her collar bone, sternum, ribs, vertebrae, and skull, finally reaching the ossicles of her middle ear.
The jackhammers of the Wing of Zock had been wiggling my ossicles for twelve hours.
She slipped a needle into the flaking silver-green, measured and clattered her ossicles in frustration.
For in the ear the sound-waves are first of all taken over by the so-called ossicles, three small bones in the middle ear which, when examined with the Goethean eye, appear to be a complete metamorphosis of ah arm or a leg.
In addition, the lever action of the ossicles is such that sound-wave energy is concentrated.