Rudiment (Noun)
Meaning
The remains of a body part that was functional at an earlier stage of life; "Meckel's diverticulum is the rudiment of the embryonic yolk sac".
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The vestigial pelvic bone in some snakes is a rudiment of the hind legs that their ancestors once had.
- Meckel's diverticulum is the rudiment of the embryonic yolk sac that was essential for nutrition during fetal development.
- The small bone at the base of the human spine is a rudiment of a longer tail that existed in our distant ancestors.
- Wisdom teeth can be considered a rudiment of the extra molars our ancestors had due to their different diet and jaw structure.
- The vestigial wings of penguins are a rudiment of their flying ancestors, and are now primarily used for balance and swimming.