— periosteal, periosteous , adj. — periosteally , adv.
/per'ee os"tee euhm/ , n. , pl. periostea /-tee euh/ . Anat.
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.
[ 1590-1600; periosteon, n. use of neut. of Gk periósteos around the bones. See PERI-, OSTEO- ]