chiasma
/kaɪˈæzmə/ noun
Forms chiasmas chiasmata chiasm
- noun (anatomy) A crossing of two nerves, ligaments etc.
- noun (genetics, cytology) The contact point between the two chromatids of a chromosome during meiosis.
- noun (uncommon) An instance of chiasmus.
Synonyms
Etymology
From New Latin chiasma, from Ancient Greek χῑ́ασμα (khī́asma), from χῑάζω (khīázō, “to mark with an X”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A commissure; especially, the optic commissure, or crucial union of the optic nerves.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “chiasma”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details