condylus

Condylus, in anatomical terminology, is a Latin term meaning a rounded projection at the end of a bone that forms or participates in a joint. The word is used to describe articular surfaces that are typically covered with cartilage and designed to articulate with another bone. The singular form is condylus and the plural is condyli.

Notable examples include the condylus occipitalis (occipital condyle) on the base of the skull, which articulates with the atlas to form the atlanto-occipital joint; the condylus mandibulae (mandibular condyle) at the upper end of the mandible, which participates in the temporomandibular joint with the temporal bone; and the femoral condyles (condyli femoris) at the distal end of the femur that articulate with the tibial plateau to form the knee joint. Proximal tibial condyles also serve as articular surfaces. The concept is used across vertebrates to describe analogous rounded articular prominences on limb bones.

Functionally, condyli serve as articulation surfaces that enable hinge, gliding, or complex movements between bones while distributing loads during movement. Their shape and size can vary among species and individuals, reflecting evolutionary adaptation and developmental differences.

Clinically, involvement of condylar regions can occur in fractures or degenerative joint diseases. Examples include mandibular condyle fractures, temporomandibular joint disorders, and injuries to occipital condyles following head trauma. The term is primarily descriptive, used to designate these rounded, joint-forming surfaces rather than to specify a single bone.