| parabasal body | A term formerly equivalent to the DNA kinetoplast, part of the giant mitochondrion of certain parasitic flagellates. The parabasal body plus the basal body were previously thought to comprise a kinetoplast, or locomotory apparatus, but kinetoplast is now restricted to part of the DNA giant mitochondrion and parabasal body is a distinct structure near the nucleus, probably equivalent to the metazoan Golgi apparatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| R body | <biology, microbiology> A protein structure, visible by optical microscopy, found in various bacteria, probably related to plasmid presence. Found both in free living pseudomonads and in various bacteria endosymbiotic in Paramecium. Has toxic activity against Paramecium and confers killer characteristics on Paramecium that ingest bacteria containing the structure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| paramural body | <plant biology> Membranous structure located between the plasma membrane and cell wall of plant cells. If it contains internal membranes, it may be called a lomasome, if not, it may be termed a plasmalemmasome. (18 Nov 1997) |
| ventral nucleus of trapezoid body | A cell group embedded among the fibres of the trapezoid body, the major decussation of the central auditory pathway, in the lower pons. The nucleus receives fibres from the contralateral cochlear nuclei and contributes fibres to the ascending auditory system or lateral lemniscus. Synonym: nucleus ventralis corporis trapezoidei. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paranephric body | A mass of fat lying behind the renal fascia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paranuclear body | A set of radiating microtubules extending outward from the cytocentrum and centrosphere of a dividing cell. Synonym: aster, attraction sphere, Lavdovsky's nucleoid, paranuclear body. Origin: G. Astron, star, + sphaira, ball (05 Mar 2000) |
| paraphysial body | Origin: NL, fr. Gr. Beside + growth. <botany> A minute jointed filament growing among the archegonia and antheridia of mosses, or with the spore cases, etc, of other flowerless plants. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| geniculate body | See: lateral geniculate body, medial geniculate body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paraterminal body | A slender vertical whitish band immediately anterior to the lamina terminalis and anterior commissure; contrary to its name, it is not a cortical convolution but is the ventral continuation of the transparent septum. Synonym: area subcallosa, gyrus paraterminalis, gyrus subcallosus, pedunculus corporis callosi, corpus paraterminale, paraterminal body, paraterminal gyrus, peduncle of corpus callosum, precommissural septal area, subcallosal area, Zuckerkandl's convolution. (05 Mar 2000) |
| carotid body | A small cluster of chemoreceptive and supporting cells located near the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery. The carotid body, which is richly supplied with fenestrated capillaries, senses the pH, carbon dioxide, and oxygen concentrations in the blood and plays a crucial role in their homeostatic control. (12 Dec 1998) |
| carotid body cell | <pathology> Cells derived from the neural crest, involved in sensing pH and oxygen tension of the blood. (18 Nov 1997) |
| carotid body tumour | An invariably benign, encapsulated, firm round mass at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, with nests of large polyhedral cells in alveolar or organoid arrangement. It is usually asymptomatic but large masses may encroach upon the parapharyngeal space and produce dysphagia, pain, and cranial nerve palsies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| giant cells, foreign-body | Multinucleated cells (fused macrophages), characteristic of granulomatous inflammation, which form around exogenous material in the skin. They are similar in appearance to langhans giant cells (giant cells, langhans), but foreign-body giant cells have more abundant chromatin and their nuclei are scattered in an irregular pattern in the cytoplasm. (12 Dec 1998) |
| parts of human body | The head, neck, trunk, and limbs. Synonym: partes corporis humani. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cavernous body of clitoris | One of the two parallel columns of erectile tissue forming the body of the clitoris; they diverge at the root to form the crura of the clitoris. Synonym: cavernous body of clitoris. (05 Mar 2000) |