Cnidocell definition

Cnidocell





Home | Index


We love those sites:

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Lasso \Lass"o\ (l[a^]s"s[-o]) n.; pl. {Lassos} (-s[=o]z). [Sp.
     lazo, L. laqueus. See {Lace}.]
     A rope or long thong of leather with a running noose, used
     for catching horses, cattle, etc.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     {Lasso cell} (Zool.), one of a peculiar kind of defensive and
        offensive stinging cells, found in great numbers in all
        c[oe]lenterates, and in a few animals of other groups.
        They are most highly developed in the tentacles of
        jellyfishes, hydroids, and Actini[ae]. Each of these cells
        is filled with, fluid, and contains a long, slender, often
        barbed, hollow thread coiled up within it. When the cell
        contracts the thread is quickly ejected, being at the same
        time turned inside out. The thread is able to penetrate
        the flesh of various small, soft-bodied animals, and
        carries a subtle poison by which they are speedily
        paralyzed and killed. The threads, at the same time, hold
        the prey in position, attached to the tentacles. Some of
        the jellyfishes, as the Portuguese man-of-war, and
        {Cyanea}, are able to penetrate the human skin, and
        inflict painful stings in the same way. Called also
        {nettling cell}, {cnida}, {cnidocell}.
        [1913 Webster]

















Powered by Blog Dictionary [BlogDict]
Kindly supported by Vaffle Invitation Code Get a Freelance Job - Outsource Your Projects | Threadless Coupon
All rights reserved. (2008-2024)