| 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) |
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| 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) |
| bony | 1. Consisting of bone, or of bones; full of bones; pertaining to bones. 2. Having large or prominent bones. <marine biology> Bony fish, the gar pike (Lepidosteus). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bony ankylosis | Same as Synosteosis. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bony crepitus | <clinical sign, orthopaedics> The spongy quality one appreciates on palpation (feeling with the open hand) of a fracture site (broken bones). This physical finding can be a clue that a fracture exists. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bony heart | The presence of extensive calcareous patches in the pericardium and walls of the heart, some of which chronically develop bony changes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bony nasal septum | The bones supporting the bony part of the nasal septum; these are the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid, the vomer, the sphenoidal rostrum, the crest of the nasal bones, the frontal spine, and the median crest formed by the apposition of the maxillary and palatine bones. Synonym: septum nasi osseum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bony palate | A concave elliptical bony plate, constituting the roof of the oral cavity, formed of the palatine process of the maxilla and the horizontal plate of the palatine bone on either side. Synonym: palatum osseum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bony part of auditory tube | The portion of the auditory tube that passes from the tympanic cavity anteromedially through the saemicanal for auditory tube. Synonym: pars ossea tubae auditivae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bony part of external acoustic meatus | The medial two-thirds of the external acoustic meatus which is formed as the tympanic plate of the temporal bone develops; it extends approximately 16 mm. From its junction with the cartilaginous part to the tympanic membrane. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bony part of nasal septum | The major portion of the nasal septum supported by the vomer and the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid. Synonym: pars ossea septi nasi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| limbus of bony spiral lamina | The border of the spiral lamina; the thickened periosteum covering the upper plate of the bony spiral lamina of the cochlea. Synonym: limbus laminae spiralis osseae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alveolar canals | Canals in the body of the maxilla that transmit nerves and vessels from the alveolar foramina to the maxillary teeth. Synonym: canales alveolares, alveolodental canals, dental canals. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alveolodental canals | Canals in the body of the maxilla that transmit nerves and vessels from the alveolar foramina to the maxillary teeth. Synonym: canales alveolares, alveolodental canals, dental canals. (05 Mar 2000) |