ulna

noun

ul·​na ˈəl-nə How to pronounce ulna (audio)
plural ulnae ˈəl-nē How to pronounce ulna (audio) or ulnas
: the bone on the little-finger side of the human forearm
also : a corresponding part of the forelimb of vertebrates above fishes
ulnar
ˈəl-nər How to pronounce ulna (audio)
-ˌnär
adjective

Examples of ulna in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Accomplishing even this step proved especially difficult because of the need to precisely align the volunteer’s radius and ulna. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 Oct. 2023 This air breathing fish’s front fins even have an ulna and a radius like our forearms do, and they’re coded by the same set of genes, reports Tessa Koumoundouros for Science Alert. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Jan. 2021 Each one holds a skeleton laid out carefully to preserve the proper anatomical placement of bones—a radius must lie just next to the ulna on each table. Ananda Rose, Scientific American, 1 June 2015 Dakotaraptor possesses a row of ‘quill knobs’, or papilli, on the surface of its ulna, one of the lower arm bones. Jon Tennant, Discover Magazine, 2 Nov. 2015 The surgery repairs a torn ligament in the elbow — the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), which connects the humerus to the ulna — with a tendon from elsewhere in the body. Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2022 The bones of paddlefish and sturgeons who died in the Chicxulub Impact indicated that the asteroid struck in the spring, and a hadrosaur in Blagoveshchensk was presumed to have broken its ulna while eating leaves or mating. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 27 Apr. 2022 The excavation that turned up the whale bones—a matching radius and ulna of an adult male—began in November 2019. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2020 The bird was hit in the ulna — a bone in its wing — but the bullet fragments weren’t immediately removed over fears her wing could be further damaged, communications director Tracey Berry told the station Sunday. Fox News, 26 Nov. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ulna.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, elbow — more at ell

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ulna was in 1541

Dictionary Entries Near ulna

Cite this Entry

“Ulna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ulna. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ulna

noun
ul·​na ˈəl-nə How to pronounce ulna (audio)
plural ulnae -nē How to pronounce ulna (audio) or ulnas
: the bone on the little-finger side of the human forearm
also : a corresponding part of the forelimb of vertebrates
ulnar adjective

Medical Definition

ulna

noun
ul·​na ˈəl-nə How to pronounce ulna (audio)
plural ulnae -nē How to pronounce ulna (audio) or ulnas
: the bone on the little-finger side of the human forearm that forms with the humerus the elbow joint and serves as a pivot in rotation of the hand

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