Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In anatomy, outer; external; superficial; peripheral: opposed to ental.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective (Anat.) Pertaining to, or situated near, the surface; outer; -- opposed to ental.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective anatomy Pertaining to, or situated near, the surface; outer.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

ecto- + -al

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word ectal.

Examples

  • On the calcaneum, the tuber is long and robust; the sustentaculum is oval, small, and shelf-like; the ectal facet is convex and confluent with the curved facet for the fibula; and the distal cuboid facet is slightly concave and obliquely oriented.

    PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles 2009

  • Other astragalar facets include a narrow convex articular surface for the cuboid adjacent to the deeply notched surface for the navicular, a small curved surface laterally for articulation with the ectal facet of the calcaneum, a proximodistally elongated convex facet ventrally for long excursion on the calcaneal sustentacular surface, and a small facet adjacent to the cuboid facet for articulation with the calcaneum.

    PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles 2009

  • Mrs. Shirley, and re [) ectal) le aunt Selby, and her honest man, healthy happiness, and so forth.

    Sir Charles Grandison 2006

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.