A cartilaginous skull; the cartilaginous parts of the developing skull. [chondro- + G. kranion, skull]
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chon·dro·cra·ni·um .kän-drə-'krā-nē-əm, -drō- n, pl -nia the embryonic cartilaginous cranium also the part of the adult skull derived therefrom compare OSTEOCRANIUM
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n.
the embryonic skull, which is composed entirely of cartilage and is later replaced by bone. See also meninx.
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chon·dro·cra·ni·um (kon″dro-kraґne-əm) [chondro- + cranium] [TA] the part of the neurocranium formed by endochondral ossification and comprising the bones of the base of the cranium; called also cartilaginous neurocranium.Medical dictionary. 2011.