accessory /akses″ərē/ [L, accessonis, appendage] , 1. a supplementary item, desirable but not necessary, used chiefly for convenience or for safety, such as the electric elevator mechanisms for hospital beds. 2. a structure that contributes to the function of one of the main anatomical systems, such as the accessory sex organs in men and women or the accessory organs of the skin, including the hair, the nails, and the skin glands.
