The metapterygoid is a posterior bone that ossifies in the cartilaginous palatoquadrate arch. It first appears as a rod of bone with an anterodorsally projecting process from the middle of the dorsal surface (6.4 mm). The adult metapterygoid is roughly rectangular in shape with rounded corners and an anterodorsally projecting spine that meets the entopterygoid medially in a synostosis at its posteromedial edge. The posterior end curves dorsally to form the posteroventral surface of the orbit. [ GOC:ymb ORCiD:0000-0002-9900-7880 ]
Synonyms: metapterygoids
Term information
Term relations
- dermal bone
- endochondral bone
- metapterygoid
- endoderm-derived structure
- palate bone
- part of some palatoquadrate arch
- develops from some pterygoid process
- existence starts during or after some larval:days 14-20
- overlaps some hyomandibula-metapterygoid joint
- part of some palate
- overlaps some quadrate-metapterygoid joint