epiphysisn.
/ɛˈpɪfɪsɪs/ Anatomy.
1. An extremity or other portion of a long bone which has originated in a centre of ossification distinct from the rest. Opposed to apophysis n.
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1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. vi. xxvi. 217 The wand hath two Epiphyses or Appendices, the one at the upper end, the other at the lower.
1693 A. Moulen in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 17 714 The Cartilage had generally an Epiphise or two.
1741 A. Monro Anat. Human Bones (ed. 3) 39 An Epiphyse might be mistaken for a Fracture.
1854 R. Owen Struct. Skeleton & Teeth in Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature I. 166 These separately ossified ends being termed ‘epiphyses’.
1872 St. G. Mivart Lessons Elem. Anat. ii. 23.
2. abstract. The process of developing such a growth.
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1862 H. Holland Human Longevity in Ess. 108 This period of Epiphysis or completion of bony union.
3. The pineal body of the brain. In full epiphysis cerebri.
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the world > life > the body > secretory organs > gland > specific glands > [noun] > pineal gland
pine kernel1598
pine-glandule1615
conarium1656
pineal gland1681
epiphysis1882
pineal1911
1882 A. Thomson in Quain's Elem. Anat. (ed. 9) II. 831 (heading) Pineal gland. Epiphysis cerebri... This body is formed by an out-folding from the back part of the inter-brain roof, at a place where the opposite sides remain united by nervous matter afterwards giving rise to the pineal peduncles.
1887 A. C. Haddon Introd. Study Embryol. 199 Vertebral epiphyses are peculiar to Mammals.
1889 A. H. Buck Ref. Handbk. Med. Sci. VIII. 175/1 The epiphysis (pineal gland) is not regarded as an important neural ingredient of the brain.
1951 O. Larsell Anat. Nerv. Syst. (ed. 2) xiv. 349 The pineal body or epiphysis..is considered by many students of the brain as a vestigial organ, related to the parietal eye of lower vertebrates.
4. In sea urchins, a calcareous piece attached to each half of an alveolus.
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1906 Cambr. Nat. Hist. I. 526 [Echinus] Each tooth is firmly fixed by a pair of ossicles.—Their upper ends are connected by a pair of ossicles called ‘epiphyses’. These two epiphyses meet in an arch above.
1959 Chambers's Encycl. I. 592/2 The divergent ends of the limbs of each jaw are bridged by ossicles called epiphyses.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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