A band or fold of tissue that attaches or restrains one part to another, such as in the mouth, or a similar structure elsewhere in the body.
From Latin frenum meaning 'bridle' or 'restraint,' originally referring to a bridle used to control horses, then applied to anatomical structures that similarly restrict movement.
The word 'frenum' comes directly from the bridle used on horses, showing how anatomists used everyday objects to name body parts—when they saw something that restrained movement, bridles were the perfect metaphor.
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