symphysis

English

Etymology

Borrowed from New Latin symphysis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɪm.fɪs.ɪs/

Noun

symphysis (plural symphyses)

1. (anatomy) The process of two originally separate bones growing together as the subject matures, as with the pubic bones or lower jawbones in humans.
2. (anatomy) A place where two bones are closely joined in the median plane of the body, either forming an immovable joint (as between the pubic bones in the center of the pelvis) or completely fused (as at the midline of the lower jaw).
   1. (medicine) A line, discernable on an X-ray, showing such fusion.
   2. (anatomy) The cartilaginous material that adjoins and facilitates the junction of such bones, without a synovial membrane.

Derived terms

• pubic symphysis
• symphysis pubis

 

References

• “symphysis”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “symphysis”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

Latin

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek σύμφῠσῐς (súmphusis, “growing together, natural junction”), from σῠμφύω (sumphúō, “to make to grow together, to unite”) +‎ -σῐς (-sis, nominal suffix).

Pronunciation

• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈsim.fi.sis/, [ˈsimfis̬is]

Noun

symphysis f (genitive symphysis or symphyseōs or symphysios); third declension

1. (anatomy) A symphysis.

Inflection

Third-declension noun (Greek-type, i-stem, i-stem).

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	symphysis	symphysēs symphyseis
Genitive	symphysis symphyseōs symphysios	symphysium
Dative	symphysī	symphysibus
Accusative	symphysim symphysin symphysem1	symphysēs symphysīs
Ablative	symphysī symphyse1	symphysibus
Vocative	symphysis symphysi	symphysēs symphyseis

¹Found sometimes in Medieval and New Latin.

Descendants

→ English: symphysis