Gonion
/ˈɡoʊniən/noun
The point at the angle of the lower jaw, where the body of the mandible meets its ramus.
Did you know?The anatomical term preserves ancient Greek geometric language, linking the sharp corner of the mandible to the same root behind words such as polygon.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵónu-
“Knee; the joint whose bent shape was associated with an angle or corner”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γωνία (gōnía)
“Angle, corner, or the point where lines meet”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γώνιος (gṓnios)
“Angular; pertaining to an angle”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
gonion
“The angular point of the mandible, used as an anatomical landmark”
Modern English
English
gonion
“The anatomical angle of the lower jaw”