| end organ | The special structure containing the terminal of a nerve fibre in peripheral tissue such as muscle, tissue, skin, mucous membrane, or glands. See: ending. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Jacobson's organ | A specialised part of the olfactory system located anteriorly in the nasal cavity within the nasal septum. Chemosensitive cells of the vomeronasal organ project via the vomeronasal nerve to the accessory olfactory bulb. The primary function of this organ appears to be in sensing pheromones which regulate reproductive and other social behaviours. While the structure has been thought absent in higher primate adults, data now suggests it may be present in adult humans. (12 Dec 1998) |
| floating organ | An organ with loose attachments, permitting its displacement. Synonym: floating organ, ptotic organ. (05 Mar 2000) |
| flower-spray organ of Ruffini | One of the two types of sensory nerve ending associated with the neuromuscular spindle (the other being the annulospiral ending); in this type, the fibre branches spread out upon the surface of the intrafusal fibres like a spray of flowers. Synonym: flower-spray organ of Ruffini. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foetal organ maturity | <embryology> Functional competence of specific foetal organs or body systems. In humans, it is usually assessed by analysis of amniotic fluid, as in the assessment of foetal lung maturity by analysis for components of pulmonary surfactant. (08 Mar 2000) |
| lateral line sense organ | A structure in fish consisting of a long groove or canal extending along each side of the trunk and tail and branching in the head region; the groove or tube is lined with neuroepithelial cells, some of which are in groups known as neuromasts; its function appears to be the detection of vibrations of low frequency. Synonym: neuromast organ. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vein of vestibular aqueduct | A small vein accompanying the endolymphatic duct; it drains much of the vestibular portion of the labyrinth and terminates in the inferior petrosal sinus. Synonym: vena aqueductus vestibuli. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vein of vestibular bulb | The vein draining the bulb of the vestibule; a tributary of the internal pudendal vein. Synonym: vena bulbi vestibuli. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vestibular | <anatomy> Pertaining to or toward a vestibule. In dental anatomy, used to refer to the tooth surface directed toward the vestibule of the mouth. Origin: L. Vestibularis (18 Nov 1997) |
| vestibular anus | <anatomy, surgery> A congenital malformation in which the anus is imperforate but the rectum opens into the vagina just above the vulva. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vestibular apparatus | <anatomy> The receptor organ of the vestibular portion of the 8th cranial nerve, consisting of the three saemicircular canals and the otolith, located within the petrous portion of the temporal bone of the skull. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vestibular aqueduct | <anatomy> A small bony canal linking the vestibule of the inner ear to the posterior part of the internal surface of the petrous temporal bone. It surrounds the endolymphatic duct. (12 Dec 1998) |
| vestibular area | More specifically look at: inferior vestibular area, superior vestibular area. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vestibular blind sac | <anatomy> The lower extremity of the cochlear duct, occupying the cochlear recess in the vestibule. Synonym: caecum vestibulare, vestibular blind sac. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vestibular branches of labyrinthine artery | <anatomy, artery> Branches of labyrinthine artery passing to the vestibule of the bony labyrinth to supply the membranous labyrinth. (05 Mar 2000) |