trabecula

tra·bec·u·la  (tr-bky-l)

n. pl. tra·bec·u·lae (-l)

1. A small supporting beam or bar.

2.

a. Anatomy Any of the supporting strands of connective tissue projecting into an organ and constituting part of the framework of that organ.

b. Any of the fine spicules forming a network in cancellous bone.

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[Latin trabcula, diminutive of trabs, trab-, beam; see treb- in Indo-European roots.]

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tra·becu·lar adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

trabecula - rod-shaped structures of fibrous tissue that divide an organ into parts (as in the penis) or stabilize the structure of an organ (as in the spleen) fibrous tissue - tissue consisting of or containing fibers in both animals and plants