ctenidium

American  

[ti-nid-ee-uhm] / tɪˈnɪd i əm /

noun

Zoology.

plural

ctenidia

1. any of various comblike or featherlike structures, as the row of stiff bristles on the legs of a psocid.

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ctenidium British  

/ tɪˈnɪdɪəm /

noun

1. one of the comblike respiratory gills of molluscs

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Other Word Forms

• ctenidial adjective

Etymology

Origin of ctenidium

From New Latin, dating back to 1880–85; see origin at cteno-, -idium

Example Sentences

The whole surface of the body becomes greatly modified in those Nudibranchiate forms which have lost, not only the shell, but also the ctenidium.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 "Gassendi, Pierre" to "Geocentric" by Various

This organ has, without reason, been supposed to represent the second ctenidium of the typical mollusc, which it cannot do on account of its position.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 "Gassendi, Pierre" to "Geocentric" by Various

Spiral fibre: the spiral thickening or folding of the chitinous lining of a trachea, which gives to the latter its characteristic microscopic appearance as well as its support and elasticity:= ctenidium.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

Shell with very low spire, without umbilicus, internal partitions frequently absorbed; a single ctenidium; a cephalic penis present.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 "Gassendi, Pierre" to "Geocentric" by Various

The ctenidium is monopectinate and attached to the mantle along its whole length, except in Adeorbis and Valvata; in the latter alone it is bipectinate.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 "Gassendi, Pierre" to "Geocentric" by Various