ischium

noun

is·​chi·​um ˈi-skē-əm How to pronounce ischium (audio)
plural ischia ˈi-skē-ə How to pronounce ischium (audio)
: the lower and posterior of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis
ischial adjective

Examples of ischium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The ornithischians were a vegan bunch — both their ischium and pubis pelvic bones pointed backwards, creating more room in the gut area to process all that vegetation. Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2017 The animal — which, by the way, is known from several specimens — had a pelvic girdle with rear-pointing pubis and ischium, like the ornithischians. Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2017 The skeleton is nearly 80 percent complete, with its pelvic bones, pubis, hind limbs and the ischium all present from the evacuation. Dana Givens, Robb Report, 5 Dec. 2022 Meanwhile, the epiphyses on the ischium and the ends of the femur and shin bone (tibia) were well-developed but hadn’t yet fused—in other words, DH7 wasn’t a very young child but was definitely still growing. Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 10 Apr. 2020 The bones also included a right thighbone (femur) and hipbone (ischium), a right arm, and part of a lower right jaw and a few teeth. Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 10 Apr. 2020 Ribs, back and lower hips If all goes to plan, this second week will also see Sue lose its chest ribs, neck and chest backbones, and pubis and ischium (the lower hip bones). Steve Johnson and Phil Geib, chicagotribune.com, 3 Feb. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ischium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin, hip joint, from Greek ischion

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ischium was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near ischium

Cite this Entry

“Ischium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ischium. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ischium

noun
is·​chi·​um ˈis-kē-əm How to pronounce ischium (audio)
plural ischia
-kē-ə
: the one of the three bones making up each side of the pelvis that is lowermost and in back

Medical Definition

ischium

noun
is·​chi·​um ˈis-kē-əm How to pronounce ischium (audio)
plural ischia -ə How to pronounce ischium (audio)
: the dorsal and posterior of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis consisting in humans of a thick portion, a large rough eminence on which the body rests when sitting, and a forwardly directed ramus which joins that of the pubis

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