How Do You Spell CUPULA?

Pronunciation: [kjˈuːpjʊlə] (IPA)

The word "cupula," meaning a dome-shaped structure or an organ of balance in the inner ear, is commonly misspelled as "cupola" due to their similar sounds. However, the correct spelling of the word is "cupula," pronounced as /ˈkjuːpjʊlə/ (KYOO-pyuh-luh) in IPA phonetic transcription. The phonetic transcription highlights the stress on the second syllable and the soft "c" sound at the beginning of the word, which is often overlooked when misspelling it as "cupola."

CUPULA Meaning and Definition

  1. Cupula is a term with various meanings depending on the context in which it is used.

    In anatomy, cupula refers to the dome-shaped structure found in the inner ear. It is located within the semicircular canals and is filled with a gel-like substance called endolymph. The cupula is responsible for detecting angular movement and rotational acceleration of the head. When the head moves, the endolymph flows against the cupula, causing it to bend and stimulate the hair cells located within, thus initiating nerve signals that are sent to the brain to interpret the body's position in space.

    In architecture, cupula refers to a small dome-shaped structure that caps the top of a building or any other architectural element. Cupulas are usually ornamental and serve aesthetic purposes, adding elegance and visual interest to the structure. They are often seen in churches, temples, public buildings, and residential properties, where they may be made of various materials such as metal, glass, or stone.

    Finally, in biology, cupula can also refer to a disk-like or cup-shaped structure found in certain organisms, such as jellyfish or coral. This cupula acts as a support or protective structure for the organism and may also function in capturing prey or in reproductive processes.

    Overall, cupula is a term used in anatomy, architecture, and biology to describe dome-shaped structures that serve different purposes depending on the specific field of study.

  2. Cupola. 1. A fine striated membranous structure covering the hair cells of the crista ampullaris. 2. The dome-like apex of the cochlea. 3. The summit of one of the solitary glands of the intestine.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for CUPULA

  • cuppola
  • coppula
  • copula
  • cupola
  • kupola
  • kapula
  • xupula
  • vupula
  • fupula
  • dupula
  • chpula
  • cjpula
  • c8pula
  • c7pula
  • cuoula
  • culula
  • cu-ula
  • cu0ula
  • cupyla
  • cuphla

Etymology of CUPULA

The word "cupula" originates from Latin, where it is derived from the diminutive form of "cupa", meaning "tub" or "cask". Over time, the term "cupula" began to be used specifically to refer to a small dome-shaped structure. The word has been adopted into various other languages, including English, retaining its meaning as a small dome or cup-shaped structure.

Similar spelling words for CUPULA

Plural form of CUPULA is CUPULAE

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