[per-ee-os-tee-uh
m] 
[-tee-uh] . Anatomy. | the normal investment of bone, consisting of a dense, fibrous outer layer, to which muscles attach, and a more delicate, inner layer capable of forming bone. |
| per·i·os·te·um (pěr'ē-ŏs'tē-əm) n. pl. per·i·os·te·a (-tē-ə) The dense fibrous membrane covering the surface of bones except at the joints and serving as an attachment for muscles and tendons. [New Latin, from Late Latin periosteon, from Greek, from periosteos, around the bone : peri-, peri- + osteon, bone; see ost- in Indo-European roots.] per'i·os'te·al (-tē-əl), per'i·os'te·ous (-tē-əs) adj. |
periosteum per·i·os·te·um (pěr'ē-ŏs'tē-əm)
n. pl. per·i·os·te·a (-tē-ə)
The thick fibrous membrane covering the entire surface of a bone except its articular cartilage and serving as an attachment for muscles and tendons.