Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The lowest of the three major bones that constitute each half of the pelvis.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In anatomy, the posterior part of the pelvic arch in vertebrates, the lowermost of the three parts forming the os innominatum.
  • noun In Crustacea, the third joint of the normally 7-jointed leg; the ischiopodite.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun anatomy The lowest of the three bones that make up each side of the pelvis.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun one of the three sections of the hipbone; situated below the ilium

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin, hip joint, from Greek iskhion.]

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Examples

  • At the level of a line extending from the lower part of the symphysis pubis to the spine of the ischium is a thickened whitish band in this upper layer of the diaphragmatic part of the pelvic fascia.

    IV. Myology. 6e. The Muscles and Fasciæ of the Pelvis 1918

  • The ischium is the lowest and strongest portion of the bone; it proceeds downward from the acetabulum, expands into a large tuberosity, and then, curving forward, forms, with the pubis, a large aperture, the obturator foramen.

    II. Osteology. 6c. The Bones of the Lower Extremity. 1. The Hip Bone 1918

  • Posteriorly the ramus forms a large swelling, the tuberosity of the ischium, which is divided into two portions: a lower, rough, somewhat triangular part, and an upper, smooth, quadrilateral portion.

    II. Osteology. 6c. The Bones of the Lower Extremity. 1. The Hip Bone 1918

  • W. wattsi, which has a relatively small ilium and large blade-like ischium which is broad along its entire length.

    PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Scott A. Hocknull et al. 2009

  • When, therefore, dislocation takes place inward, the leg appears longer than natural, when compared with the other leg, for two reasons truly; for the bone which articulates with the hip-joint is carried from above down to the ischium where it rises up to the pubes, upon it, then, the head of the femur rests, and the neck of the femur is lodged in the cotyloid foramen (foramen thyroideum?).

    On The Articulations 2007

  • The ischium is united to the great vertebra contiguous to the os sacrum by a cartilaginous ligament.

    Instruments Of Reduction 2007

  • In all birds there is an ischium, but so placed and of such length that it would scarcely be taken for an ischium, but rather for a second thigh-bone; for it extends as far as to the middle of the belly.

    On the Parts of Animals 2002

  • For if its ischium extended but a short way from the fundament, and then immediately came the leg, as is the case in man and in quadrupeds, the bird would be unable to stand up at all.

    On the Parts of Animals 2002

  • As a remedy for this Nature has given them a long ischium, and brought it to the centre of the body, fixing it firmly; and she has placed the legs under this central point, that the weight on either side may be equally balanced, and standing or progression rendered possible.

    On the Parts of Animals 2002

  • In the pelvic girdle the ilium corresponds to the scapula, the ischium to the coracoid, the pubis to the clavicle.

    Form and Function A Contribution to the History of Animal Morphology

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