frenulum
nounUK /ˈfriː.njʊl.əm/ · US /ˈfrɛn.jəl.əm/
Etymology Borrowed from New Latin frēnulum, diminutive of frēnum (“a bridle, curb, bit”).
1
Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences A small fold or ridge of tissue that supports or restrains the motion of the part to which it is attached, in particular a fold of skin beneath the tongue, or between the lip and the gum.
- Humans have three oral frenulums: beneath the tongue, between the upper lip and gum, and between the lower lip and gum.
2
Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences Specifically Such a ridge of tissue connecting the foreskin to the glans on the underside of the penis; the penile frenulum.
3
Biology, Entomology, Natural sciences, Zoology, Zootomy A bristle or row of bristles on the edge of the hindwings of some lepidoptera which unites the wings by interlocking with a catch on the posterior part of the forewings.
- Derived terms
- frenular, frenulate, frenulectomy, frenuloplasty