| tripod | 1. Any utensil or vessel, as a stool, table, altar, caldron, etc, supported on three feet. On such, a stool, in the temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Pythian priestess sat while giving responses to those consulting the Delphic oracle. 2. A three-legged frame or stand, usually jointed at top, for supporting a theodolite, compass, telescope, camera, or other instrument. <physiology> Tripod of life, or Vital tripod, the three organs, the heart, lungs, and brain; so called because their united action is necessary to the maintenance of life. Origin: L. Tripus, -odis, Gr.; (see Tri-) +, foot. See Foot, and cf. Tripos, Trivet. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| tripod fracture | <radiology> Malar fracture, trimalar fracture, inferior orbital rim, lateral orbital wall, fracture/dislocation of zygomatic arch (12 Dec 1998) |
| tripodia | Condition seen in conjoined twins when fusion has merged the lower extremities on the joined sides to form a single foot, so that there are only three feet for the two bodies. See: conjoined twins. Origin: tri-+ G. Pous, foot (05 Mar 2000) |
| vital tripod | The brain, the heart, and the lungs, regarded as the three organs essential to life. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Haller's tripod | Origin, abdominal aorta just below diaphragm; branches, left gastric, common hepatic, splenic. Synonym: truncus coeliacus, arteria coeliaca, coeliac artery, coeliac axis, Haller's tripod. (05 Mar 2000) |