axial

comparative more axial · superlative most axial · alternative axical

1. Relating to, resembling, or situated on an axis

   The axial asymmetry of Mercury's inertia ellipsoid may result in a torque that counterbalances the tidal torque

   1965 November 6, G. Colombo, “Rotational Period of the Planet Mercury”, in Nature, volume 208, number 575, →DOI

2. anatomyBelonging to the axis of the body, or to the axis of any appendage or organ

   the axial bones

   2 more examples

   the axial skeleton

   Among the hypothesized diagnoses was metastatic carcinoma. In metastatic cancer, metastases are most frequent in the axial skeleton and are rare in the distal parts of the appendicular skeleton[…].

   2023, Simon Mays, “The Macroscopic Study of Human Skeletal Paleopathology” (chapter 2), in The Routledge Handbook of Paleopathology, Routledge, →DOI, →ISBN, page 27

3. biologyIn the same direction as the axis, parallel to the axis.

   The secondary xylem usually consists of axial and radial elements.

4. physicalchemistryOriented parallel to the axis running through the centre of a cyclohexane ring, as opposed to equatorial. See Axial bond.

plural axials · alternative axical

1. biologyA flight feather that appears between the primaries and secondaries on some birds.
2. dentistryA plane parallel to the surface of a tooth.