fossa (redirected from cranial fossa)

fos·sa  (fs)

n. pl. fos·sae (fs) Anatomy

A small cavity or depression, as in a bone.

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[Latin, ditch, from feminine past participle of fodere, to dig.]

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fossate (fst) adj.

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fossa¹

n pl -sae [-siː]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) an anatomical depression, trench, or hollow area

[from Latin: ditch, from fossus dug up, from fodere to dig up]

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fossa²

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) a large primitive catlike viverrine mammal, Cryptoprocta ferox, inhabiting the forests of Madagascar: order Carnivora (carnivores). It has thick reddish-brown fur and preys on lemurs, poultry, etc.

[from Malagasy]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	fossa - a concavity in a surface (especially an anatomical depression) pit glenoid cavity, glenoid fossa - the concavity in the head of the scapula that receives the head of the humerus to form the shoulder joint glenoid fossa, mandibular fossa - a deep concavity in the temporal bone at the root of the zygomatic arch that receives the condyle of the mandible bodily cavity, cavum, cavity - (anatomy) a natural hollow or sinus within the body epigastric fossa, pit of the stomach - a slight depression in the midline just below the sternum (where a blow can affect the solar plexus) concave shape, concavity, incurvation, incurvature - a shape that curves or bends inward
	2.	Fossa - monotypic genus of Madagascar civets closely related to palm civets genus Fossa mammal genus - a genus of mammals family Viverridae, family Viverrinae, Viverridae, Viverrinae - genets; civets; mongooses fanaloka, Fossa fossa - civet of Madagascar
	3.	fossa - largest carnivore of Madagascar; intermediate in some respects between cats and civets Cryptoprocta ferox, fossa cat viverrine, viverrine mammal - small cat-like predatory mammals of warmer parts of the Old World