trabecula

noun tra·bec·u·la \trə-ˈbe-kyə-lə\

plural tra·bec·u·lae\-ˌlē, -ˌlī\ also tra·bec·u·las

Definition of TRABECULA

: a small bar, rod, bundle of fibers, or septal membrane in the framework of a body organ or part

: a fold, ridge, or bar projecting into or extending from a plant part; especially : a row of cells bridging an intercellular space

— tra·bec·u·lar \-lər\ adjective

— tra·bec·u·late \-lət\ adjective

Origin of TRABECULA

New Latin, from Latin, little beam, diminutive of trabs, trabes beam

First Known Use: circa 1866

Medical Dictionary

trabecula

noun tra·bec·u·la \trə-ˈbek-yə-lə\

plural tra·bec·u·lae \-ˌlē\ also tra·bec·u·las

Medical Definition of TRABECULA

: a small bar, rod, bundle of fibers, or septal membrane in the framework of a bodily organ or part (as the spleen)

: one of a pair of longitudinally directed more or less curved cartilaginous rods in the developing skull of a vertebrate that develop under the anterior part of the brain on each side of the pituitary gland and subsequently fuse with each other and with the parachordal cartilages to form the base of the cartilaginous cranium

: any of the intersecting osseous bars occurring in cancellous bone