isth
mus
Plural
isthmuses
1
a narrow piece of land with water on each side that connects two larger areas
- The Isthmus of Panama serves as a crucial land bridge connecting North and South America, facilitating the exchange of flora and fauna between the continents.
- Ancient civilizations often settled along isthmuses for their strategic significance in trade and defense.
- The Isthmus of Corinth, in Greece, was historically traversed by ships being towed across a paved track, known as the Diolkos, to avoid the perilous journey around the Peloponnese peninsula.
- Coastal erosion threatens the stability of isthmuses, leading to concerns about their resilience in the face of rising sea levels.
- The narrow isthmus between the Mediterranean and Red Seas has long been a focal point of maritime commerce, influencing the development of civilizations in the region.
2
a narrow band of tissue connecting two larger parts of an anatomical structure
- The thyroid gland is joined by a thin isthmus across the trachea.
- The isthmus of the brainstem links the midbrain to the cerebellum.
- Surgeons carefully avoided damaging the isthmus during the operation.
- The uterine isthmus connects the body of the uterus to the cervix.
- The fallopian tube narrows at the isthmus before reaching the uterus.
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