long bone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “long bone” mean?
A bone that is longer than it is wide, having a shaft and two ends, found in the limbs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bone that is longer than it is wide, having a shaft and two ends, found in the limbs.
In anatomy, a specific class of bones characterized by their elongated shape, functioning primarily as levers for movement and providing structural support. Metaphorically, it can refer to the core structural or foundational element in a system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical differences. Pronunciation differences follow general patterns for the constituent words.
Connotations
Purely technical/medical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in general discourse but standard in medical and biological contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “long bone” in a Sentence
The [femur/humerus] is a long bone.Long bones are found in the [limbs/appendicular skeleton].A fracture of a long bone requires [immobilisation/immobilization].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “long bone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The surgeon needed to debride and plate the fractured long bone.
American English
- The surgeon needed to debride and plate the fractured long bone.
adjective
British English
- The long-bone fracture was clearly visible on the X-ray.
American English
- The long-bone fracture was clearly visible on the X-ray.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Standard term in anatomy, biology, medicine, and palaeontology.
Everyday
Rare; only used when discussing anatomy, injury, or biology in a detailed way.
Technical
The primary register. Precisely defined in osteology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “long bone”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “long bone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “long bone”
- Using 'long bone' to describe any large bone (e.g., skull, pelvis).
- Pronouncing it as a single stressed unit (*/'lɔːŋbəʊn/); it is a phrase with two primary stresses.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, despite its curved shape, the clavicle is classified as a long bone because it has a shaft and two articular ends, and it forms via endochondral ossification.
Their primary functions are to act as levers for movement, provide structural support for the body, and facilitate hematopoiesis (blood cell production) in the bone marrow.
It is extremely rare outside technical contexts. A forced metaphor might refer to a 'long bone of the organisation' meaning a core, supportive element, but this is not standard usage.
There are approximately 90 long bones in the adult human body, including bones in the arms, legs, hands, and feet (e.g., metacarpals, metatarsals, phalanges).
A bone that is longer than it is wide, having a shaft and two ends, found in the limbs.
Long bone is usually technical/scientific in register.
Long bone: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɒŋ ˈbəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɔːŋ ˈboʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'long bones' as the long, strong pillars of your limbs, like the beams in a building's framework.
Conceptual Metaphor
FRAMEWORK/SUPPORT (The long bones are the struts or girders of the bodily structure.)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a long bone?