gill arch

noun

1

: any of the bony or cartilaginous arches or curved bars extending dorsoventrally and placed one behind the other on each side of the pharynx and supporting the gills of fishes and amphibians

2

: any of the rudimentary ridges in the embryos of all higher vertebrates that correspond to the gill arches

Examples of gill arch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In fish, this structure goes on to form the gill arch. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 7 July 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gill arch

noun

1

: one of the several bars of bone or cartilage that occur in pairs with one of each pair on each side of the throat and that support the gills of fishes and amphibians

2

: one of the undeveloped ridges that occur in the embryos of all higher vertebrates and correspond to the gill arches of fishes and amphibians

Medical Definition

gill arch

noun

: one of the bony or cartilaginous arches or curved bars extending dorsoventrally and placed one behind the other on each side of the pharynx and supporting the gills of fishes and amphibians

also : branchial arch