| membranous labyrinth | A complex arrangement of communicating membranous canaliculi and sacs, filled with endolymph and surrounded by perilymph, suspended within the cavity of the bony labyrinth; its chief divisions are the cochlear labyrinth and the vestibular labyrinth. Synonym: labyrinthus membranaceus. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| cochlear labyrinth | The content of the cochlea including the portion of the membranous labyrinth containing the spiral organ (cochlear duct) and the perilymphatic channels (scalae) which lie on either side. Synonym: labyrinthus cochlearis, organ of hearing. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Santorini's labyrinth | A venous plexus, arising chiefly from the dorsal vein of the penis, situated below the base of the bladder at the sides of the prostate. See: prostaticovesical plexus. Synonym: plexus venosus prostaticus, plexus pudendalis, Santorini's labyrinth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| osseous labyrinth | A series of cavities (cochlea, vestibule, and saemicircular canals) contained within the otic capsule of the petrous portion of the temporal bone; the bony labyrinth is filled with perilymph, in which the delicate, endolymph-filled membranous labyrinth is suspended. Synonym: labyrinthus osseus, osseous labyrinth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ethmoidal labyrinth | A mass of air cells with thin bony walls forming part of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity; the cells are arranged in three groups, anterior, middle, and posterior, and are closed laterally by the orbital plate which forms part of the wall of the orbit. Synonym: labyrinthus ethmoidalis, ectethmoid, ectoethmoid, lateral mass of ethmoid bone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fenestration, labyrinth | The surgical creation of a new opening in the labyrinth of the ear for the restoration of hearing in cases of otosclerosis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| labyrinth | 1. An edifice or place full of intricate passageways which render it difficult to find the way from the interior to the entrance; as, the Egyptian and Cretan labyrinths. 2. Any intricate or involved inclosure; especially, an ornamental maze or inclosure in a park or garden. 3. Any object or arrangement of an intricate or involved form, or having a very complicated nature. "The serpent . . . Fast sleeping soon he found, In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled." (Milton) "The labyrinth of the mind." (Tennyson) 4. An inextricable or bewildering difficulty. "I' the maze and winding labyrinths o' the world." (Denham) 5. <anatomy> The internal ear. See Note under Ear. 6. <chemistry> A series of canals through which a stream of water is directed for suspending, carrying off, and depositing at different distances, the ground ore of a metal. 7. A pattern or design representing a maze, often inlaid in the tiled floor of a church, etc. Synonym: Maze, confusion, intricacy, windings. Labyrinth, Maze. Labyrinth, originally; the name of an edifice or excavation, carries the idea of design, and construction in a permanent form, while maze is used of anything confused or confusing, whether fixed or shifting. Maze is less restricted in its figurative uses than labyrinth. We speak of the labyrinth of the ear, or of the mind, and of a labyrinth of difficulties; but of the mazes of the dance, the mazes of political intrigue, or of the mind being in a maze. Origin: L. Labyrinthus, Gr. Labyrinthos: cf. F. Labyrinthe. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| labyrinth supporting cells | Cells forming a framework supporting the organ of corti. Specific cells are those of claudius, deiters and hensen. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Ludwig's labyrinth | Proximal and distal convoluted tubules and the associated renal corpuscles supplied by branches of the interlobular arteries. Synonym: labyrinthus, pars convoluta lobuli corticalis renis, labyrinth, Ludwig's labyrinth, renal labyrinth. (05 Mar 2000) |