chiasma

chi·as·ma

noun

pl. chi·as′mata

a crossing or intersection of the optic nerves in the hypothalamus of the brain
a point of contact between chromosomes during meiosis where two chromatids interchange corresponding segments
any crosswise function

Origin of chiasma

Modern Latin from Classical Greek chiasma, a crosspiece from chiasmos, placing crosswise from chiazein, to mark with a chi (?)

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"chiasma." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/chiasma>.

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chiasma. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/chiasma

chiasma

also chi·asm

noun

pl. chi·as·ma·ta, or chi·as·mas also chi·asms

Anatomy A crossing or intersection of two tracts, as of nerves or ligaments.
Genetics The point of contact between paired chromatids during meiosis, resulting in a cross-shaped configuration and representing the cytological manifestation of crossing over.

Origin of chiasma

Greek khīasma cross-piece from khīazein to mark with an X from khei, khī chi (from the letter's shape)

Related Forms:

chi·as′mal chi·as′mic chi′as·mat′ic
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"chiasma." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/chiasma>.

APA Style

chiasma. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/chiasma

Noun

(plural chiasmas or chiasmata)

(anatomy) A crossing of two nerves, ligaments etc.
(genetics, cytology) The contact point between the two chromatids of a chromosome during meiosis.

Origin

Modern Latin, from Ancient Greek χίασμα (khiasma), from χίαζειν (khiazein, “to mark with the letter chi”).

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"chiasma." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/chiasma>.

APA Style

chiasma. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/chiasma

chiasma - Medical Definition

also chiasm (kī′ăz′əm)

pl. chiasmata (-mə-tə) or chiasmas also chiasms

Anatomy A crossing or intersection of two tracts, as of nerves or ligaments.
Genetics The point of contact between paired chromatids during meiosis, resulting in a cross-shaped configuration and representing the cytological manifestation of crossing over.

Related Forms:

chi·as′mal chi·as′mic chi′as·mat′ic (-măt′ĭk)
adj.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"chiasma." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/chiasma>.

APA Style

chiasma. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/chiasma

chiasma

chiasma

chiasma - Medical Definition

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chiasma

chiasma

chiasma - Medical Definition

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