Meanings
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1
adj
anatomy: relating to a rib or the ribs
The surgeon examined the costal cartilage connecting the rib to the breastbone.
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2
adj
zoology: relating to a costa, especially the leading edge or a principal vein of an insect wing
A small membrane lay between the butterfly's costal and subcostal veins.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Borrowed through French costal from Medieval Latin costalis, 'relating to a rib,' from Latin costa, 'rib or side.' Zoologists extended costa and costal to riblike ridges and strengthened edges such as an insect wing's leading vein.