| 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) |
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| 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) |