hyobranchium

noun

hyo·​bran·​chi·​um

ˌhīōˈbraŋkēəm

plural hyobranchia

-ēə

: a typically somewhat Y-shaped bone that serves to support the tongue and tongue muscles in a snake and is considered to result from fusion of the hyoid and remnants of the branchial arches

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from hy- + -branchium (from Greek branchion gill)

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