What does cornua mean?
Cornua is the plural of cornu, a Latin word meaning 'horn', and refers to horn-shaped or horn-like structures. In modern usage the term belongs almost entirely to anatomy and zoology, where it describes paired, curved projections of organs and bones — most commonly the cornua of the uterus, the greater and lesser cornua of the hyoid bone, the sacral cornua at the base of the spine, and the tapering horns of the lateral ventricles of the brain. The word carries a distinctly technical register: readers will encounter it in medical textbooks, radiology reports, and scholarly papers rather than conversation. Its Latin plural form signals its classical origin and its adoption into scientific nomenclature, where precision matters more than familiarity. Related English words sharing the same root include cornea, corner, cornucopia, and unicorn.
nounCornua is the plural of cornu: horn-like or horn-shaped structures, used especially in anatomy and zoology to denote paired, curved projections such as the horns of the uterus or the greater and lesser horns of the hyoid bone.
- Horn-shaped anatomical structures, especially paired curved projections in organs such as the uterus, hyoid bone, sacrum, and spinal cord.
- In zoology and classical usage: horns, especially those of animals like snails or insects.
"The radiologist noted that both cornua of the uterus appeared normal on the scan."
"An ultrasound revealed fluid within both cornua of the bicornuate uterus."
"The Roman war-trumpet known as the cornu curved around the musician's arm like an animal's horn."
Cornua is itself a plural form (the plural of cornu) and takes no additional English plural ending; it follows the Latin pattern retained in scientific nomenclature.
"The surgeon ligated the vessels supplying both cornua."
Your uterus, your hyoid bone, and even your spinal cord's tip all have 'little horns' — Latin named them centuries before modern anatomy mapped them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does cornua come from?
Cornua comes directly from Latin cornu, meaning 'horn' or 'horn-shaped projection', which derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *ker- ('horn, head'). English borrowed the term as part of the Latinate vocabulary of anatomy and natural history, preserving the original Latin plural. The same root gave rise to a family of English cognates including corner, cornea, cornucopia, and unicorn, all of which preserve the sense of something pointed, curved, or horn-like.
Related word forms
How cornua is actually used
Cornua is a technical term found almost exclusively in medical, anatomical, zoological, and archaeological writing; it is not used in everyday speech. As a Latinate plural it retains its Latin form rather than taking an English -s ending.
Easily confused with cornua
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye, whereas cornua are horn-shaped anatomical projections.
Cornu is the singular form denoting one horn-shaped structure, while cornua is its plural.