What does crura mean?
Crura is the plural form of the Latin word crus, meaning leg or shin. In modern English it survives almost entirely as a term of art in anatomy and zoology, where it describes any leg-shaped or pillar-like structure within an organism. Familiar examples include the crura of the diaphragm, which anchor that muscle to the lower spine, the crura of the penis, paired supporting columns of erectile tissue, and the crura cerebri of the midbrain, also known as cerebral peduncles. In entomology, crura may refer to the shank segments of an insect's legs. Because the word derives directly from Latin and retains its original plural form rather than anglicising to 'cruses,' it carries a distinctly scholarly register and appears mainly in medical textbooks, surgical literature, and scientific writing. For general readers it serves as a reminder that anatomical terminology frequently borrows everyday Latin words for body parts and applies them metaphorically to internal structures that resemble limbs or pillars.
nounCrura is the plural of crus, a Latin-derived term meaning the leg or shinbone, used chiefly in anatomy to denote leg-like or pillar-like structures in the body.
- Anatomy: leg-like or pillar-like structures, such as those of the diaphragm, penis, or cerebrum.
- Zoology: the legs or shanks of insects and other animals.
- Classical Latin: the legs or shins of humans.
"The crura of the diaphragm anchor it firmly to the lumbar vertebrae."
"The surgeon carefully dissected around the right crus of the diaphragm."
"In classical Latin literature, crura simply meant 'legs' or 'shins.'"
Crura is itself the plural form borrowed from Latin; do not add an English-style '-es' ending. The singular is crus.
"Each crus of the diaphragm was examined separately, and both crura appeared intact."
In anatomy, your 'legs' don't stop at your waist — even the diaphragm and brain have their own 'crura.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crura
Crura comes directly from Latin, where crura was already the plural of crus, meaning leg or shin. Anatomists adopted the word during the development of modern medical Latin, applying it to any structure resembling a leg or supporting column. The adjective crural ('relating to the leg') shares this root, as do related terms such as crureus, the name of a thigh muscle.
Related word forms
How crura is actually used
A formal, technical term found almost exclusively in medical, anatomical, zoological, and classical contexts. Rarely encountered in everyday speech.
Easily confused with crura
Curia refers to a council or court, especially the administrative body of the Roman Catholic Church, whereas crura are anatomical leg-like structures.