basipterygium
noun
ba·sip·ter·yg·i·um
-jēəm
plural basipterygia
-jēə
: a basal bone or cartilage forming a support of one of the paired fins of a fish:
a
: a large cartilage supporting the radialia in ganoids and selachians
b
: a large bone supporting the rays of a pelvic fin in teleosts
c
: the posterior member of a group of three such supporting elements in certain fishes compare mesopterygium, metapterygium, propterygium
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from basi- + Greek pterygion fin, literally, small wing