branchial

American  

[brang-kee-uhl] / ˈbræŋ ki əl /

adjective

1. of or relating to gills or to the homologous, embryonic parts in animals without gills.

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ˈbranchial British  

/ ˈbræŋkɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the gills of an aquatic animal, esp a fish

2. of or relating to homologous structures in higher vertebrates

   branchial cyst

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Other Word Forms

• hyperbranchial adjective
• interbranchial adjective
• prebranchial adjective
• subbranchial adjective

Etymology

Origin of branchial

First recorded in 1795–1805; branchi- + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The funnel's walls are formed by branchial arches, which include comb-like structures.

From Science Daily

Now, a group of Kyoto University researchers have produced neural crest cell-rich aggregates from human pluripotent stem cells and developed a method to differentiate them in cell populations with a branchial arch-like gene expression pattern.

From Science Daily

But the makings of a new way of feeding were already present in fish anatomy: a series of curved bones called branchial arches and the supporting muscles.

From Science Magazine

They emerge from these tubes to filter feed, procreate and breathe with a part of their body called the branchial crown.

From New York Times

Metaspriggina boasted seven pairs of rod-like structures called gill arches, or branchial arches, that functioned for both filtration of food particles and respiration.

From Reuters