Medical Dictionary

Howship's lacuna

noun How·ship's lacuna \ˈha-ˌships-\

Medical Definition of HOWSHIP'S LACUNA

:  a groove or cavity usually containing osteoclasts that occurs in bone which is undergoing reabsorption

Biographical Note for HOWSHIP'S LACUNA

Howship, John (1781–1841), British anatomist. Howship was a surgeon at St. George's and Charing Cross hospitals in London. In 1820 he published a treatise on the natural and pathological anatomy of bones. In this work he described the bone pits or cavities now known as Howship's lacunae.

Browse

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears