costal, a. (n.)
(ˈkɒstəl)
[a. F. costal (Paré, 16th c.), ad. med. or mod.L. costāl-is, f. costa rib: see costa1.]
1. Phys. Pertaining to or connected with the ribs.
costal respiration: respiration produced chiefly by the movements of the ribs; opposed to abdominal or diaphragmatic respiration.
| 1634 T. Johnson tr. Parey's Chirurg. 571 The sharp splinters pricke the costall membrane. 1836 Todd Cycl. Anat. I. 281/1 The costal vertebræ. 1878 Foster Phys. ii. ii. §1. 259 The movement of the upper chest characteristic of female breathing, which is called costal. |
† b. (See quot.) Obs.
| 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iv. x. 203 Whereby are excluded all cetaceous..fishes, many pectinall, whose ribs are rectilineall, many costall, which have their ribs embowed. |
2. Nat. Hist., etc. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a costa1, q.v. Hence costal-nerved adj.
| 1839 Todd Cycl. Anat. II. 927/1 The costal nervure is the first longitudinal nervure of the wing. 1880 Gray Struct. Bot. iii. §4. 92 Leaves..Costal-nerved, the nerves springing from a midrib or costa. |
B. n.
† 1. The side. Obs. rare.
| 1634 Malory's Arth. vii. xii. (1816) I. 235 Sir Beaumains smote him through the costal [ed. Caxton cost] of the body. |
2. Anat. and Zool. Short for costal vein, muscle, plate, etc.
| 1828 Stark Elem. Nat. Hist. II. 405 Pelvis of five plates, supporting five costals. 1852 Todd Cycl. Anat. IV. i. 282 The great lateral costals. |
Hence ˈcostally adv., in a costal manner, position, or direction; in reference to the costa.