| 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) |
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| 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) |
| 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) |
| absorptive cells of intestine | Cell's on the surface of villi of the small intestine and the luminal surface of the large intestine that are characterised by having microvilli on their free surface. (05 Mar 2000) |
| air cells | Air-containing spaces in the skull. See: pulmonary alveolus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| air cells of auditory tube | Occasional small air cells in the inferior wall of the auditory tube, near the tympanic orifice, communicating with the tympanic cavity. Synonym: cellulae pneumaticae tubae auditivae, air cells of auditory tube. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Alpha cells | Alpha cell's of pancreas or of anterior lobe of hypophysis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha cells of anterior lobe of hypophysis | Acidophil cell's that constitute about 35% of the cell's of the anterior lobe. There are two varieties: one that elaborates somatotropin, another that elaborates prolactin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha cells of pancreas | Cell's of the islets of Langerhans that secrete glucagon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amniogenic cells | Cell's from which the amnion develops. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anabiotic cells | Cell's that are capable of resuscitation after apparent death; the existence of anabiotic tumour cell's is postulated to explain the recurrence of a cancer after a very long symptomless period following operation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| angioblastic cells | Those cell's in the early embryo from which primitive blood cell's and endothelium develop. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior cells | The anterior group of air cells of the ethmoidal sinus's; each sinus communicates with the middle meatus of the nasal cavity. Synonym: sinus ethmoidales anteriores, anterior cells, anterior sinuses, cellulae anteriores. (05 Mar 2000) |