Dictionary:

apophysis

  (ə-pŏf'ĭ-sĭs)

Also from Answers.com... Allergies Health videos on seasonal allergies, including allergy treatment options.

1. Anatomy. A natural swelling, projection, or outgrowth of an organ or part, such as the process of a vertebra.
2. Geology. A branch from a dike or vein.

[New Latin, from Greek apophusis, from apophuein, to send out branches : apo-, apo- + phuein, to grow.]

A prominent bony outgrowth projecting from the surface of a bone upon which it has never been able to move, and from which it has never been separated, e.g. a process, tubercle or tuberosity. Apophyses often act as attachment sites for tendons. Compare epiphysis.

Pl. apophyses [Gr.] a bony outgrowth or swelling such as a tuberosity or process, especially one that has no secondary center.

Apophysis (Greek: αποφυσις, offshoot) is:

• a bony protuberance, in human physiology
• a botanical term for the swelling of the spore-case in certain mosses
• Apophysis (software), a fractal flame generating program for Microsoft Windows

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)