socket

SYN: gomphosis. 1. The hollow part of a joint; the excavation in one bone of a joint which receives the articular end of the other bone. 2. Any hollow or concavity into which another part fits, as the eye s.. [thr. O. Fr. fr. L. soccus, a shoe, a sock]

- dry s. SYN: alveoalgia.

- eye s. generally the orbit, although the true “s.” for the eyeball, into which a prosthetic eye would be inserted, is formed by the fascial sheath of the eyeball. SYN: orbit.

- tooth s. [TA] a s. in the alveolar process of the maxilla or mandible, into which each tooth fits and is attached by means of the periodontal ligament. SYN: alveolus dentalis [TA], alveolus (4) [NA].

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sock·et 'säk-ət n an opening or hollow that forms a holder for something: as

a) any of various hollows in body structures in which some other part normally lodges <the bony \socket of the eye> <an inflamed tooth \socket> esp the depression in a bone with which the rounded head of another bone fits in a ball-and-socket joint

b) a cavity terminating an artificial limb into which the bodily stump fits see SUCTION SOCKET

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n.

(in anatomy) a hollow or depression into which another part fits, such as the cavity in the alveolar bone of the jaws into which the root of a tooth fits. See also dry socket.

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sock·et (sokґət) 1. a hollow or depression, into which a corresponding part fits. 2. gomphosis.