Bran"chi*al (?), a. Anat.
Of or pertaining to branchiae or gills.
Branchial arches, the bony or cartilaginous arches which support the gills on each side of the throat of fishes and amphibians. See Illustration in Appendix. -- Branchial clefts, the openings between the branchial arches through which water passes.
© Webster 1913.