tricuspid
Meaning
having three cusps or points, especially of a tooth or heart valve.
Structure
Usage
the tricuspid valve regulates blood flow between the right atrium and right ventricle.
the dentist identified a tricuspid molar during the examination.
a common congenital heart defect involves a malformed tricuspid valve.
Etymology
The word tricuspid is a modern anatomical term formed from classical elements. The prefix "tri-", with its ancient Indo-European root meaning "three", is directly combined with "cuspid", derived from the Latin cuspis for a sharp point. This construction literally describes an object with three points. In medical terminology, this logical descriptor was specifically applied to the three-flapped valve in the heart and to certain three-pointed teeth, directly transferring the literal meaning into a precise anatomical classification.
Analysis
tri is a combining form from latin and greek, meaning "three". cuspid is from latin cuspis, cuspid-, meaning "point" or "tip".