General Anatomy · Skeletal System · Medium

Zygoma

Meaning: The cheekbone, forming the prominence of the cheek and part of the eye socket.

In practice: After the punch, he had a flattened cheek due to a fractured zygoma.

Word parts

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

Two questions on related general anatomy words.

Which word means: One of the twelve pairs of curved bones forming the chest wall and protecting the heart and lungs.

Which word means: Soft tissue inside bones that produces blood cells.

One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.