zygoma

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   anatomy: either zygomatic bone, forming the prominence of the cheek below and beside the eye

   The scan revealed a small fracture of the left zygoma beneath the eye socket.

2. 2
   noun

   anatomy: the zygomatic arch or one of the bony processes that forms it

   The researcher measured the skull's width across the two zygomas.

Borrowed through New Latin from Greek zygoma, 'that which is yoked or joined,' from zygon, 'yoke.' The name refers to the cheekbone and arch joining the facial bones to the side of the skull. Both zygomas and zygomata are accepted plurals.

Topics