pterotic

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. In zoology and anatomy, noting an ossification of the periotic capsule or petrosal bone, distinct from the proötic, epiotic, and opisthotic, which occurs in some vertebrates between the proötic and the epiotic.
2. n. A pterotic ossification. See first cut under teleost and cut under Esox.
3. n. Specifically, in fishes, a posterolateral ossification of the cranium. It forms (sometimes with the assistance of the opisthotic) the parotic process. It articulates with the parietal and epiotic at the side; the frontal and sphenotic anteriorly; the proötic and opisthotic below; and the exoccipital beneath the opisthotic. It assists the sphenotic in suspending the hyomandibular from the cranium.

Wiktionary

1. adj. anatomy Of or relating to a bone between the prootic and epiotic in the dorsal and outer part of the periotic capsule of many fishes.
2. n. The pterotic bone.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adj. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to, or designating, a bone between the proötic and epiotic in the dorsal and outer part of the periotic capsule of many fishes.