| physa | <zoology> A genus of fresh water Pulmonifera, having reversed spiral shells. See Pond snail, under Pond. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. A bellows. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| physalaemin | <chemical> An oligopeptide isolated from the skin of physalaemus fuscumaculatus, a south american frog. It is a typical kinin, resembling substance p in structure and action and has been proposed as a sialagogue, antihypertensive, and vasodilator. Chemical name: Physalemin (12 Dec 1998) |
| physalia | <zoology> A genus of large oceanic Siphonophora which includes the Portuguese man-of-war. It has a large air sac, or float, with a sail-like crest on its upper side. Numerous zooids of different kinds are attached to the under side of the float. Some of the zooids have very long tentacles; some have a mouth and digest food; others produce gonophores. The American species (Physalia arethusa) is brilliantly coloured, the float being pink or purple, and bright blue; the zooids blue. It is noted for its virulent stinging powers, as well as for its beautiful colours, graceful motions, and its ability to sail to windward. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. A bladder, fr. A bellows. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| physaliae | <zoology> An order of Siphonophora which includes Physalia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| physaliferous | Having bubbles or vacuoles. Synonym: physaliferous. Origin: G. Physallis, bladder, bubble, + phoros, bearing (05 Mar 2000) |
| physaliform | Like a bubble or small bleb. Origin: G. Physallis, bladder, bubble, + L. Forma, form (05 Mar 2000) |
| physaliphore | A mother cell, or giant cell containing a large vacuole, in a malignant growth. Origin: G. Physallis, bladder, bubble, + phoros, bearing (05 Mar 2000) |
| physaliphorous | Having bubbles or vacuoles. Synonym: physaliferous. Origin: G. Physallis, bladder, bubble, + phoros, bearing (05 Mar 2000) |
| physaliphorous cell | <cell biology, pathology> Cells of chordoma (tumour derived from notochordal remnants) that appear vacuolated because they contain large intracytoplasmic droplets of mucoid material. (07 May 1998) |
| physalis | A vacuole in a giant cell found in certain malignant neoplasms, such as chordoma. Origin: G. Physallis, a bladder (05 Mar 2000) |
| Physaloptera | A large genus of spiruroid roundworms parasitic in the stomach and duodenum of vertebrates, especially birds and mammals; they are transmitted via insect and annelid intermediate hosts and are frequently pathogenic, causing erosions and catarrhal gastritis. Physaloptera caucasica is a species reported in man in the southern part of the area formerly known as the USSR; Physaloptera mordens is a species from tropical Africa found only rarely in the oesophagus, stomach, and intestine of man (probably cases of temporary infection from ingestion of infected insects). Origin: G. Physallis, bladder, + pteron, wing (05 Mar 2000) |
| physalopteriasis | Infection of animals and man with nematodes of the genus Physaloptera. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physarida | An order of protozoa characterised by a peridium and capillitium that are calcareous and a spore mass that is usually dark-coloured. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Physarum | <fungus> A member of the Myxomycetes or acellular slime moulds. Normally exists as a multinucleate plasmodium that may be many centimetres across, but if starved and stimulated by light will produce spores that later germinate to produce amoeboid cells, myxamoebae, which may transform into flagellated swarm cells. Either of these cell types may fuse to produce a zygote that forms the plasmodium by synchronous nuclear division. Easily grown in the laboratory and much used for studies on cytoplasmic streaming and on the cell cycle because they show synchronous DNA synthesis and nuclear division). (18 Nov 1997) |
| physarum polycephalum | An organism considered both a fungus and a protozoon. Characteristics include sporangia that are stalked and multilobed. It is widely used in biomedical research. (12 Dec 1998) |