Origin: Greek

Gr. skaphe = a skiff or anything similary hollowed out, and eidos = resemblance. The scaphoid bone is of this shape.

Gr. skleros = hard. It is because of its relative toughness that the outer layer of the eye is named the sclera.

Gr. sesame = an herb, and eidos = resemblance. Galen suggested this name for these little bones because they resembled the seeds of sesame.

Gr. sigma  = the Greek letter S, and eidos = resemblance. In earlier times the letter sigma was written as a single curve (now the letter C), which better explains this…

Gr. skalenos = uneven.

Gr. skeletos = dried up.

Gr. soma = the body.

Gr. sphen = wedge, and eidos = resemblance. The sphenoid bone is wedge-shaped.

Gr. sphinkter  = a band,; from sphinein = to bind.