axial

/ˈæksiəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈæksiəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈak-sē-əl/ (ame, mw)

axial — adjective

  • axialpositive
  • more axialcomparative
  • most axialsuperlative

1. relating to the real or imaginary straight line that passes through the centre o

1.形容詞B2
釋義

relating to the real or imaginary straight line that passes through the centre of a spinning object, or that divides a symmetrical shape into two identical halves.

例句

The Earth rotates around its axial line once every twenty-four hours.

axial line

The engineer measured the axial tilt of the spinning disc in the laboratory.

axial tilt

用法筆記

Usually appears before a noun in technical or scientific descriptions. The related noun is 'axis' (e.g., 'the axis of the Earth').

2. relating to the imaginary straight line that runs through the centre of the body

2.形容詞C1
釋義

relating to the imaginary straight line that runs through the centre of the body, from the top of the head to the lower end of the trunk.

例句

The axial skeleton includes the skull, the ribs, and the spinal column.

axial skeleton

During the anatomy exam, the students had to label every bone of the axial skeleton.

反義詞
  • appendicular

    relating to the arms and legs, the opposite of axial in human anatomy

用法筆記

Used mainly in anatomy and medicine to distinguish the central body (head, neck, trunk) from the limbs. The opposite term is 'appendicular', which refers to the arms and legs.

常見錯誤

❌The axial muscles of the arms were weak.
✅The appendicular muscles of the arms were weak.
💡'axial' refers to the head, neck and trunk, not the arms or legs.

3. relating to the axis, the second small bone in the neck that sits below the skul

3.形容詞C2
釋義

relating to the axis, the second small bone in the neck that sits below the skull and allows the head to turn from side to side.

例句

The axial fracture was clearly visible on the X-ray of the patient's upper neck.

axial fracture

A sudden blow to the top of the head can cause a fracture of the axial vertebra.

同義詞
  • axis

    the noun form referring to the same bone; 'axial' is the adjective used to describe it

用法筆記

This sense refers specifically to the second cervical vertebra (C2), also called the axis. Do not confuse with the atlas (C1), the first vertebra that supports the skull.