splenial
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /ˈspliːniəl/
KK: /ˈsplēnēəl/
adjective
Definition
Relating to a specific bone in the skull or a muscle in the neck.
Example
The splenial bone plays a role in the structure of the jaw in some animals.
Conversation
I just read about the splenial bone in my anatomy class.
Oh really? I didn't even know there was a bone called that.
Yeah, it's interesting how many unique bones we have, like the splenial.
For sure! Anatomy can be pretty fascinating.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
mandibular
jawbone
facial
Antonyms
nonmandibular
extrinsic
external
noun
Definition
A bone located in the lower jaw of some vertebrates, particularly in certain reptiles and mammals.
Example
The splenial is an important part of the jaw structure in some species.
Conversation
Have you ever heard of the splenial bone?
No, I haven't! What is it exactly?
It's a bone in the skull that connects to the lower jaw.
Root Explanation
**Splenial** → It is derived from "splenium" (from Latin *splenium*, meaning the spleen) and the suffix "-al" (meaning pertaining to). The word "splenial" refers to something that is related to the spleen.
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'spleen' — 'splenial' means something that pertains to the spleen.
Visually Confused Words
solenial
penial
silential
special
postsplenial
pleonal