ethmoid
UK[ˈɛθmɔɪd]US[ˈɛθmɔɪd]
adj
Relating to or denoting a square bone at the root of the nose, separating the nasal cavity from the brain.
n
The ethmoid bone.
Morpheme Breakdown
ethm
oid
ethm
sieve
oid
resembling
Etymology
The word 'ethmoid' is a direct borrowing from the Modern Latin term 'ethmoidalis', which itself is derived from Greek roots. It combines 'ēthmos' (sieve) with the adjectival suffix '-oeidēs' (resembling). This nomenclature was coined in anatomical science due to the bone's perforated, sieve-like structure. The term thus logically describes the bone's physical characteristic—its cribriform plate is full of small holes, much like a sieve, which allow for the passage of olfactory nerves from the nasal cavity to the brain.
Analysis
Structure: ethm (sieve) + oid (resembling)
'ethm' is from Greek 'ēthmos', meaning 'sieve'. '-oid' is a suffix from Greek '-oeidēs', meaning 'having the form of, resembling'.
Examples
The delicate ethmoid bone forms part of the orbital wall and the roof of the nasal cavity.
A severe impact to the face can result in a fracture of the ethmoid.
The ethmoid sinuses are located within the ethmoid bone.