Plural of frenulum; small anatomical structures that connect or restrain movement, particularly in the mouth and other areas of the body.
From Latin frenulum, the diminutive form of frenum (a bridle or restraint), combining the root with the diminutive suffix -ulum to indicate something small that restrains.
The frenula under your tongue and other places are literally named after horse bridles—the Latin word frenum means bridle—because anatomists saw these structures as tiny restraints holding things in place, which is a poetic way to describe anatomy!
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