subcostal

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   anatomy: situated or occurring beneath a rib or the ribs

   The surgeon made a small subcostal incision below the rib cage.

2. 2
   adj

   entomology: relating to the subcosta, a major longitudinal vein near the leading edge of an insect wing

   The specimen had a dark mark beside the subcostal vein.

3. 3
   noun

   a structure designated as subcostal, especially a muscle beneath the ribs or the subcostal vein of an insect wing

   The diagram labels the wing vein immediately behind the costa as the subcostal.

Formed from Latin sub-, 'under or below,' + costal. Costal derives from Latin costa, 'rib or side.' Anatomists applied it to structures below the ribs, while entomologists used costa and subcosta for neighboring veins along an insect wing.

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