Definition

Relating to a specific area of the skull, particularly near the sphenoid bone, or resembling a wing.

Example

The pterygoid muscles are important for jaw movement.

Conversation

I just learned about the pterygoid muscles in my anatomy class.

Oh really? What do they do?

They help with the movement of the jaw, so they're pretty important.

That makes sense! I didn't know muscles could be called pterygoid.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A structure that extends from the sphenoid bone in the skull, often related to muscles or nerves.

Example

The pterygoid muscles are important for chewing and moving the jaw.

Conversation

I was studying anatomy and came across the term pterygoid today.

Oh really? What does it refer to?

It’s actually related to some bones in the skull, pretty interesting stuff.

Root Explanation

Pterygoid → It is formed from "pteryx" (Greek, meaning wing) and "-oid" (meaning resembling or like). The word "pterygoid" refers to a structure that resembles a wing, specifically in anatomy, where it describes a pair of muscles or bones in the skull that are wing-like in shape.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wing ('pteryx') to remember that 'pterygoid' refers to something that resembles a wing in shape.

Visually Confused Words